Distinguished Tarleton alumnus gunned down, suspect held on $3 million bond

By Houston Hall and Ashton Hamilton –

Navy Seal and Iraq War veteran Chris Kyle was shot and killed Saturday at around 3:15 p.m. at the gun range of the Rough Creek Lodge near Glen Rose.

Chad Littlefield, another veteran of the Iraq War, also was shot and killed.

Erath County’s Sheriff Tommy Bryant said their bodies were discovered about 5 p.m. by a hunting guide.

Eddie Routh (Erath Co. Sheriff’s Office)

“They looked to be shot and unconscious, “ Bryant said. “The guide then called 911.”

Police arrested Eddie Ray Routh, 25, of Lancaster, about 9 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 35 outside Lancaster.

Bryant said Routh drove from Rough Creek in Kyle’s black Ford pick-up covered in Rhino lining with a skull on the rear windshield.

Erath County Sheriff Capt. Jason Upshaw said the gun used  to kill the two men “was a semi-automatic handgun… and it was found at his (Routh’s) residence.”

Bryant said Routh drove to his sister’s house in Midlothian and told her and his brother in-law “what he had just done…the sister then called Lancaster Police Department and they notified us.”

Routh was at his home when police arrived, but was somehow able to flee the scene in Kyle’s truck. He was arrested after police spiked his tires on Interstate 35.

Routh was arraigned Sunday and transported to the Erath County Jail. He is currently being held on a $3 million bond with one capital murder and two murder charges, said Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash.

Police said they are still trying to determine the motive for the double homicide.