[Longbow1969]

Who talks like that? Who thinks about committing double murder and getting to keep the guy’s truck as spoils of war?

Crazy people. Sadly, there are a lot of them. This guy apparently was diagnosed with PTSD, had already threatened to kill his family, threatened to kill himself, had been taken to a psychiatric hospital twice in the last 4 months, etc. Routh apparently had a screw lose.

This is starting to look a little fishy, and that’s compared to how fishy it looked at first.

I kind of wonder why, with so many mental issues, Kyle and his friend (Littlefield) felt it was safe to go shooting with this guy. Perhaps they just didn't realize the extent of his problems? I am not really clear on how they came to be at the range with Routh in the first place. I mean from what I am reading about Routh, there is no way I'd want to be around him if he was armed. I have to assume they just didn't realize how mentally ill he was, or Kyle was just the kind of person willing to take a big risk to help a vet in trouble. Very, very sad situation.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Kyle may have meant well, but still it’s odd that he would be so clueless about shell shock/PTSD.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“I kind of wonder why, with so many mental issues, Kyle and his friend (Littlefield) felt it was safe to go shooting with this guy.”
I would guess that they didn't know of the extent of his mental problems. “PTSD” usually means they have symptoms of depression:
•Having a difficult time falling or staying asleep.
•Feeling more irritable or having outbursts of anger.
•Having difficulty concentrating.
•Feeling constantly “on guard” or like danger is lurking around every corner.
•Being “jumpy” or easily startled
We don't really know what happened either before, during or after the shooting as much of the reporting is turning out to be guessing.
I don't think PTSD is quite accurate. It's either full blown psychotic or he's just an evil S.O.B. hiding behind a possible defense, or both.

[Amberdawn]

From what I’ve read, Routh’s mother got in touch with Kyle to help her son. She either didn’t know or didn’t let on to Kyle that her son was that troubled.