• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Man who killed real American sniper Chris Kyle explains why he did it in chilling confession tape

Home> News> Crime

Published 16:58 23 Jan 2024 GMT

Man who killed real American sniper Chris Kyle explains why he did it in chilling confession tape

Chris Kyle was killed on a shooting range after leaving the Navy

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

The man responsible for killing real-life American sniper Chris Kyle explained his actions in a chilling confession tape.

Kyle, who was born and raised in Texas, spent 10 years working as a US Navy SEAL between 1999 and 2009, during which time he became the most successful sniper in American military history.

After surviving four tours in Iraq, Kyle was honourably discharged from the Navy in 2009 to spend more time with his family, but just four years later he was shot dead on a Texas shooting range.

Kyle's story, which he documented in his book American Sniper, inspired the 2014 film of the same name starring Bradley Cooper.

Advert

However, footage of the man who shot Kyle confessing to the crime is anything but fictional.

The man responsible for Kyle's murder was Eddie Ray Routh; a then-25-year-old Marine Corp veteran who Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield had taken to the shooting range after accepting a plea from Routh's mother.

Kyle regularly worked with other veterans after leaving the military, prompting Routh's mother to reach out to him and ask if he could help her son.

Chris Kyle's story inspired the movie American Sniper.
Tyler Golden/NBC

Advert

Routh had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, and Kyle believed the visit to Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort in Erath County would have therapeutic value.

Routh shot both Kyle and Littlefield at the shooting range, and explained his actions in a confession to a Texas ranger.

In the interview, Routh said he shot at Kyle first because he could 'clearly identify him'.

"I imagine they're headhunters, trying to hunt everybody down," he says in the clip, as quoted by CBS.

Advert

The audio from the footage was played for a jury in 2015, and heard Routh continue: "If I did not take down his soul, he was going to take down mine."

Routh was sentenced to life in prison.
YouTube/ CBS Mornings

The ranger who interviewed Routh spoke about their encounter during the trial, telling the court: "He stated that he knew it was wrong to kill them, that he wished he hadn't done it, that if he could apologise to the families, he would."

Four months after the shooting, Routh told 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.

Advert

"They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn't talk to me. I'm sure they've forgiven me."

On 24 February 2015, Routh was found guilty of the murders of both men.

Prosecutors decided before the trial not to pursue the death penalty, so the judge sentenced Routh to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Featured Image Credit: CBS / Tyler Golden/NBC

Topics: US News, Crime

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Man who killed real American sniper Chris Kyle explains why he did it in disturbing confession tape
  • Man who killed real American sniper Chris Kyle explains why he did it in chilling confession tape
  • Woman explains why she killed her ‘best friend’ after a man online offered her $9,000,000
  • Man arrested for setting governor's home on fire gives chilling reason to police for why he did it

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Scientists find a link between what time you eat breakfast and an early death

    You better start picking up those cornflakes earlier...

    News
  • GoFundMe
    6 hours ago

    Police make major breakthrough in case of boy who was found dead in a creek after homecoming dance 14 years ago

    Blake Chappell was found dead in December 2011

    News
  • ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Getty
    7 hours ago

    Putin ally gives chilling warning about next steps as Kremlin says NATO is ‘at war with Russia’

    Fears remain high regarding an escalation of the war in Europe

    News
  • Fox
    8 hours ago

    Trump leaves people baffled by claiming almost the entire US population died from drug overdoses last year

    Donald Trump raised some eyebrows with his comments

    News