The case attracted national attention due to Kyle's fame as author of a bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, published in 2012.

[1][2][3] On February 2, 2013, Kyle, 38, and his friend, Chad Littlefield, 35, were shot and killed by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range in Erath County, Texas.

Kyle and Littlefield had reportedly taken Routh to the gun range in an effort to help him with his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he suffered from his time in the military.

[7][8] Routh had also been in and out of mental hospitals for at least two years and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, although his stated motive did not involve any symptoms typically associated with the disability, such as hallucinations or delusions.

"[9] Four months later, while he was in his jail cell, Routh shared with former Erath County Sheriff's Deputy Gene Cole: "I was just riding in the back seat of the truck, and nobody would talk to me.

"[5] Kyle had been shot six times, including a “rapidly fatal” bullet to the back that pierced his aorta, and another to the jaw that caused a severe spinal cord injury.

Crime scene photos shown in court show Kyle lying on the dirt in front of an elevated deck from which rifles were fired at targets up to 1,000 yards (3,000 ft; 910 m) away.

[6] In late July 2011, Routh was diagnosed by clinicians at the Dallas Veterans Affairs hospital as having post-traumatic stress disorder and was prescribed antipsychotics and antidepressants.

[6] Routh was arraigned February 2, 2013, on two counts of capital murder, and was taken to the Erath County Jail for holding under a $3 million bond.

[20] Thousands of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle.

[21][22] Littlefield's funeral was held on February 8, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Midlothian, Texas; he was buried at Mount Zion cemetery.