# Chris Kyle, author of the book "American Sniper," fatally shot on shooting range **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-kyle-author-of-the-book-american-sniper-fatally-shot-on-shooting-range/649238 "2013-02-03T18:13:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-kyle-author-of-the-book-american-sniper-fatally-shot-on-shooting-range/649238/61 "2013-02-06T20:59:02Z")
I wonder if he had been passing himself off as an actual combat vet, and the dead guys started to sniff it out while they were shooting. He realizes they’re on to him, they maybe give him some shit, and he starts blasting… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-kyle-author-of-the-book-american-sniper-fatally-shot-on-shooting-range/649238/62 "2013-02-06T21:18:43Z")
If he is anything like some people I know, he was screwed up long before joining. One guy in particular that I know has always been a complete fuck up. He was deployed in a non-combat role. I know exactly what he did, where he did it and who he was with. Came back and convinced the VA he had PTSD from hanging out at Green Beans on VBC. He tells everyone he meets how the war fucked him up. I do believe he believes it himself. But I know him. He is just as screwed up as before but now he has an excuse. I have no doubt this guy had problems. I heard that his mother asked Chris Kyle to help him. Drugs and depression is what I heard. But it wasn’t caused by turning a wrench. If this is indeed the real story. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-kyle-author-of-the-book-american-sniper-fatally-shot-on-shooting-range/649238/63 "2013-02-07T02:15:02Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > To be clear, I don’t doubt he was trying to help the guy. I just think it was awfully short-sighted to put a combat vet suffering from combat-related PTSD (from all indications, pretty extreme PTSD) in the middle of a place that sounds like a combat zone. I, personally, would think it self-evident that odds are pretty good that the sounds of guns firing might be a trigger, and worth avoiding for the sake of the guy’s mental health. As a combat vet and frequent shooter at various indoor and outdoor ranges, I can categorically state that a shooting range doesn’t feel or sound anything like a war zone, unless you’re at Knob Creek during one of their shoots. Shooting at a range is typically about control and perfecting your skills, or just larkin’ by plinking for fun and relaxation. Combat is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. **Loach** and **Lucretia** have already said what I would have said if they hadn’t said it already. Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were killed trying to help someone, in a way that vets would “get.” Truly sad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-kyle-author-of-the-book-american-sniper-fatally-shot-on-shooting-range/649238.md?page=3)