Suspect in Murder of Navy Seal Was Decorated Marine
LANCASTER (CBS 11 NEWS)-- The quiet Lancaster neighborhood where Eddie Ray Routh lives was overrun by police Saturday afternoon, when officers were told to be on the lookout for Routh, who was by then a suspect in a double murder.
Dozens of police cars lined the street as officers tried to negotiate with Routh, who had pulled up in front of his home in Chris Kyle's stolen black truck. Officers tried to coax Routh out of the vehicle, but he refused.
Neighbors watched the drama unfold before their eyes.
"I was in total shock that this was going on right here in this neighborhood," said Caroline Greathouse, who lives across the street from Routh.
Moments later, Routh stepped on the gas and sped off, running over stop sticks, which did nothing to the large tires on Kyle's truck, hoping to escape police.
After a short pursuit, Routh stopped along I-35 and Camp Wisdom and was taken into custody without incident.
Routh's neighbors are stunned he has been charged in the murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield.
"I feel sorry for him because he definitely not that type of person," said Danny Elizondo, a neighbor who was friends with Routh. "What would drive him to that?"
But not everyone was complimentary when talking about Routh. A neighbor, who did not want to be identified said,"He didn't talk to nobody. He'd give you a dirty look all the time. He's just one of those people you just don't wanna hang out with."
The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Routh was enlisted in the Marines from 2006 until 2010.
He was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and then to Haiti following the earthquake in 2010.
Routh received 10 medals will during his service, including recognition for good conduct and humanitarian service.
Routh remains in jail under a $3 million bond.
In jail Sunday night, Routh had to be tasered and put in a restraint chair after he got aggressive with guards after he wouldn't give back a food tray.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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