Movies

What Really Happened to Chris Kyle at the Shooting Range and Why It Matters

BBG News

In 2014, Clint Eastwood directed the gripping war film “American Sniper,” which is inspired by the real-life experiences of Chris Kyle, a United States Navy SEAL who participated in four campaigns during the Iraq War. The movie’s plot is based on Kyle’s autobiography, also titled “American Sniper,” which was published in 2012. However, the film includes an additional scene that takes place after the events detailed in the book, specifically in February 2013. In this part of the movie, Kyle has retired from military service and is spending time with his family. Taya, his wife, expresses her joy at having him back home, suggesting a content and peaceful conclusion to Kyle’s story.

Over the last two hours in the movie “American Sniper”, we get a glimpse into the harsh realities of Chris Kyle’s tours in Iraq. This involves his pursuit of Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his deputy, infamously called “The Butcher”. Bradley Cooper delivers an exceptional performance, showcasing the psychological impact that Kyle’s service as a Navy SEAL sniper had on him. It’s no wonder that this powerful blend of intense action sequences and deep character exploration has made “American Sniper” one of the finest films about the Iraq War. With its recent surge in popularity on Netflix, it comes as no surprise that the film’s portrayal of warfare is currently a hot topic.

Chris Kyle Was Killed By Eddie Ray Routh At The Shooting Range After The End Of American Sniper

Routh Shot Kyle And His Friend Chad Littlefield With Guns That Belonged To Kyle

In a heartbreaking climax, the movie American Sniper extends Chris Kyle’s real-life narrative beyond his 2012 autobiography to recount the fateful day of his death. Bidding farewell to his wife and children, he goes to a shooting range with another military veteran, who unfortunately turns out to be Eddie Ray Routh, a 25-year-old ex-US Marine, responsible for Kyle’s murder on February 2, 2013. Routh also took the life of Chris Kyle’s friend, Chad Littlefield. They were both fatally shot with two semi-automatic handguns, which Kyle had lent to Routh for target practice (as reported by ABC News).

In a modest and reverent style reminiscent of Clint Eastwood’s most impactful directorial works, the film American Sniper chooses not to depict Chris Kyle’s death on screen. Rather, it delivers the information about his demise in a brief concluding remark, and offers a montage of Kyle’s funeral procession that plays alongside the end credits.

In the film, Chris Kyle is portrayed as a type of hero, demonstrating exceptional skills and finding tranquility with his family before his passing. Clint Eastwood’s choice to not depict Kyle’s death maintains the dignity in his demise that he earned throughout the movie.

Eddie Ray Routh Was Suffering From PTSD When He Murdered Chris Kyle And Chad Littlefield

Routh Had Also Been Diagnosed As Schizophrenic And Psychotic

When Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield were fatally shot (American Sniper), it was revealed that Eddie Ray Routh had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis. This former US Marine soldier was also reported to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his military service. According to The Washington Post, Routh later asserted that he had shot Kyle and Littlefield because they weren’t conversing with him during their trip to the shooting range. Prior to picking Chad up, Kyle had texted him about Routh, labeling him as “completely crazy.

It appears neither Chris Kyle nor Chad Littlefield knew about Eddie Ray Routh’s diagnosed mental health issues before their visit to the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range in Erath County, Texas. This tragic ending to Kyle’s story is especially poignant, considering he had braved four tours of duty during the Iraq War and was only starting to change his life for the better when it was cut short by this event.

Why Chris Kyle Went To A Shooting Range In American Sniper’s Final Scene

Kyle Was Helping Other Military Veterans Overcome Their Traumatic War Experiences

For quite some time before the unfortunate incident on February 2, 2013, Chris Kyle had been accompanying military veterans to firing ranges. As hinted at in the closing moments of the film “American Sniper”, Kyle chose to assist military veterans in dealing with their war-related traumas as a means of coping with his own past, following the suggestion of a psychiatrist. It appears that he found a way to help by spending time with struggling veterans, engaging in an activity they seemed to appreciate most: firing weapons at targets.

Kyle was approached by Routh’s mother outside their children’s elementary school, who suggested that her son could benefit from his aid. This detail is revealed in one of the closing scenes of what appears to be Bradley Cooper’s most significant role, as his character bids farewell to his family, unaware that it would be their last goodbye.

It’s worth noting that the casual tone of Eddie Ray Routh’s mother’s invitation made the journey a significant risk for Kyle and Littlefield. It’s unlikely that Taya Kyle suspected anything was amiss when she encountered Routh at her driveway, as depicted in the final shot of American Sniper. However, this dramatic representation effectively conveys that, given the benefit of hindsight, Kyle should not have offered assistance under these circumstances.

What Happened After Chris Kyle’s Death As A Result Of His Murder

He Was Venerated By His Wife And Residents Of Texas, Including With A Bill Passed In His Name

After the occurrence of the American Sniper events, Taya Kyle wrote and published her own memoir, sharing her personal account of her husband’s tragic demise. Beyond this, she has become an advocate for United States military veterans, releasing more books over the past decade. Notably, she played a role in passing the Chris Kyle Bill, allowing Texas military veterans to obtain state licenses for their professional qualifications upon leaving the armed forces, through the Texas Military Department.

The film “American Sniper” was released just under two years following Chris Kyle’s passing, even though the initial stages of production were initiated while he was still alive. Since then, his death date has been recognized as “Chris Kyle Day” in Texas, and a tribute to his legacy stands tall in Odessa, his birthplace. As Clint Eastwood’s movie experiences renewed popularity on Netflix, it will introduce a new generation to Chris Kyle’s tale, a story that deserves closer examination for the impact he made during his life, both within and beyond the military, rather than the unfortunate event leading to his demise.

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2025-04-29 02:59

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