The former Navy SEAL and renowned U.S. sniper shot to death at a gun range in Stephenville, Texas, spent many years living in San Diego’s East County, one of his friends told NBC 7 San Diego.
Chris Kyle, 38, and another man were found dead at the shooting range of Rough Creek Lodge Saturday, officials said.
Suspected gunman, Eddie Ray Routh, of Lancaster, Texas, was later arrested in connection with the double fatal shooting. Routh is in the Marine Corps Individual Reserve, according to reports.
Kyle was a highly-decorated former Navy SEAL who wrote “American Sniper,” a best-selling book about his career as a marksman in Iraq. He was known as one of the deadliest snipers in U.S. military history.
On Sunday, NBC 7 San Diego reached out to some of Kyle’s local friends. One man said Kyle lived in Alpine for six years while he served in SEAL Team 3 in Coronado.
Kyle’s former next door neighbor said he was good friends with the former SEAL. Their kids grew up together during the time Kyle lived in San Diego.
Photo Credit: Kevin Cokely & Amanda Guerra, NBC 5 News