Will do. When Chris Kyle was shot at a charity event at a Texas gun range just over two years ago, it was a shock to so many that a man who had served so many tours overseas would be shot down here in America. Did the shooter’s alleged PTSD have something to do with the murder?
As the trial of Eddie Ray Routh continues, we’re learning more and more about the man who allegedly killed Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield and are less and less surprised. Dallas Morning News reporter Tasha Tsiaperas is in the courtroom today.
Texas Ranger Ronald Pettigrew now on the stand. Investigated the shootings of Chad Littlefield and Chris Kyle. #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Pettigrew describing what makes 'wet' marijuana, dipped in formaldehyde or PCP. Routh is suspected of smoking wet weed before the shootings
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh continuing to take notes, as he has for much of the testimony in #snipertrial pic.twitter.com/5vuc0NKHpO
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Texas Ranger Danny Briley now testifying in #snipertrial pic.twitter.com/lDx8KvEgEe
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: "This was a brutal killing. There was no question that I was dealing with someone very violent." #AmericanSniper
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley says he could see the number of bullet holes on bodies, a lot of blood showed how gruesome the killings of Kyle, Littlefield were
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: "You can't accidentally shoot someone that many times."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Recommended
Routh went to Red Oak Taco Bell at 6:50 p.m. Texas Rangers were already at Rough Creek lodge crime scene.
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley, who got Routh's confession, said: "Murder, it's not easy to get confessions on that because it's a very large, serious crime."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: Discussed Routh's drug usage that day. Who was shot first. "very basic questions." Routh responded in "very philosophical manner."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: “I wanted to know, did you know what you were doing was wrong? …
Clearly, he knew what he was doing was wrong.” #snipertrial— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
“He stated that he knew it was wrong to kill them, that he wished he hadn’t done it, that if he could apologize to the families he would.”
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh can be seen yawning in the taped interview. It's about 11:30 the night of the killings. #snipertrial pic.twitter.com/NhpYg5v1W5
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh interview begins. He asked to take off his handcuffs. Mentions looking at computer screens in Iraq. Rambling a bit. #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: "I keep talking to Chris." mentions several Chrises. like "talking to the wolf." "I can smell bull%#$%." #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: “What was his last name?”
Routh:“It was Kyle.”
B: “And what’s that other guy’s name?”
R: “I couldn’t even remember.” #snipertrial— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: "I try to be as normal and as reasonable as I can… I'm pretty damn reasonable." "I was reasonable and fair with them boys."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: Met Kyle and Littlefield that day. “I imagine they’re headhunters, trying to hunt everybody down.”
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: “I’ve got tons of people eating on my soul right now.” Says the world is a "soulless place." #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: "The warlords aren't very happy with me. I know that. Everyone knows that in town." #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh told his sister: "I told her I had to kill a man today." "I had to to get out of that situation today."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: How many did you have to kill today?
Routh: Two #snipertrial— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: "Their training wasn't as good. My training's better." on whether Kyle and Littlefield could tell he was going to shoot them.
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh said he shot "the one he could clearly identify" first. "If I did not take down his soul, he was going to take down mine."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh says he was running on adrenaline, had trouble sleeping. #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: After you killed them, what did you do next?
Routh: Fled. I didn't know what else to do. My adrenaline was going. #snipertrial— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley asks Routh if he knew it was wrong to kill the men. Routh resonds, "Right." Routh asks Briley if he should've stayed. He says yes.
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh is saying weed in Texas is usually laced with other drugs. Briley asks what he thinks his weed was laced with. Routh: "Something wet."
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh: "I've got so many abandonment issues and trust issues." Says he's had the problems since he was a boy. #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley asks Routh if he knows the difference between wrong and right. Routh responds: "Yes sir." #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: What're you going to tell your mom?
Routh: That I love her.
Briley: What about your sister?
Routh: That I love her too.— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Briley: Did you notice blood on your boots?
Routh leans forward to look at his boots and says, "Uhhh… a little bit."— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh continuing to take notes while taped confession played. pic.twitter.com/52xyNY1ixA
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
Routh asking for a cigarette. "Does anybody smoke anymore?" #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
"Eat s#$% and die," Routh is saying during videotaped confession. Continuing to say no one can eat his soul. #snipertrial
— Tasha Tsiaperas (@ttsiaperas) February 16, 2015
The trial is currently on an afternoon break.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member