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Empire-Tribune STEPHENVILLE
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STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS H CITY OF CHAMPIONS
INVESTIGATION
75 cen t s
SUSPECT
Routh gets attorney Stephenville attorney Shay Isham has been appointed to represent Eddie Routh who is being held on capital murder charges. By JESSIE HORTON
jessie.horton@empiretribune.com
District Attorney Alan Nash, Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant and Captain Jason Upshaw held a news conference at 2 p.m. Sunday to discuss the ongoing investigation surrounding Saturday’s double homicide at Rough Creek Lodge. BRAD KEITH/E-T
Still no motive Investigators trying to determine what went wrong at Rough Creek By SARA VANDEN BERGE
sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com
New details have emerged surrounding the investigation at a shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge Saturday that claimed the lives of Chris Kyle, 38, and Chad Littlefield, 35. During a press conference Sunday, Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Kyle, Littlefield and the suspect, Eddie Routh, arrived at the shooting range about 3:15 p.m. Saturday. He said he believed it was the first time the three had gone target practicing together. Less than two hours later, a hunting guide found the deceased vicChris Kyle tims and called 911. Bryant said both men were shot more than once at close range with a semi-automatic handgun, which was recovered Saturday night at Routh’s residence in Lancaster.
On Monday, Captain Jason Upshaw said there is still no motive for what might have prompted Routh to shoot Kyle and Littlefield. Upshaw said there was no signs of a struggle at the scene and it appeared the victims were target practicing when they were shot to death. “This is still under close investigation and I can’t release any more details about the crime scene,” Upshaw said. Routh, who fled the scene in Kyle’s truck, was taken into custody after the tires were spiked while he was trying to flee police about 9 p.m. Saturday in Lancaster. He is being held on a $3 million bond at Erath County Jail, where he is being kept segregated Chad Littlefield from other inmates. Bryant did not say Routh was on suicide watch, but did say jail officials were monitoring him closely. See QUESTIONS on Page 3
Eddie Routh, 25, the man who allegedly shot and killed Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield at a shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge Saturday will be represented by Stephenville attorney Shay Isham. Isham said late Monday afternoon that he met with Routh earlier in the day. “This is clearly going to be a mental health case,” Isham said. “(Routh) was under the care of Eddie Routh a VA Hospital as recently as last month.” Isham said it was too early to comment on the case, but during his visit with Routh Monday, he described his client as “guarded.” “It was a one-sided conversation,” Isham said. “My main concern now is getting him back on his medication.” On Sunday night, Routh was tasered and restrained in a chair after he became combative See BOND on Page 2
Local gun expert talks shooting therapy By DONNIE BRYANT
Officials: Threats made against Routh By JESSIE HORTON
jessie.horton@empiretribune.com
Officials with the Erath County sheriff ’s office are wading through a number of threats that have been made against Eddie Routh, the man accused of killing Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Saturday. “There have been a number of threats made on different social media sites from ex-military and non-military folks,” Sheriff Tommy Bryant said. “They aren’t confirmed threats, but people are putting the word out there that they want harm to come to Routh.” One threat, however, is gaining some attention. Bryant said he received a call Sunday night from Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford who said his dispatchers received a call from a man who said he wanted to harm Routh.
In an email sent to Alford, the man identified as “John” stated, “I will take care of this. Kyle was a friend. There is not one jurisdiction that can save him.” Deputies were dispatched to the man’s home, where he told him that he needed help before he did something to the man who killed Kyle, Bryant said. The man was reportedly intoxicated. He was not arrested, but there are plans to get him checked into a place where he can get help, Bryant said. Routh is segregated in his cell from other inmates. “We are taking extra safety measures into consideration with these threats in mind,” Bryant said. “We will not be taking him out of the jail unless it is absolutely necessary. We aren’t even taking him from the jail for his arraignment.” See THREATS on Page 2
donnie.bryant@empiretribune.com
Target shooting as a form of therapy is likely to come under a great deal of scrutiny in the days and weeks to come. In the wake of the murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield committed by Eddie Routh and the very nature of the tools employed in the therapy, a critical question comes to mind: Can recreational shooting be therapeutic? “Kyle was one of the best operator/ instructors of his time, and I believe he would have been constantly evaluating the situation.” - Bill Davison Tac Pro Shooting Center owner and instructor Bill Davison has extensive knowledge and experience in the realm of fire arms. He thinks there is
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