WASHINGTON, Feb 3: The man hailed as the deadliest military sniper in US history has been shot to death at a Texas firing range, allegedly by a former soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The death of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, 38, was confirmed Sunday by FITCO Cares, a foundation he helped start that worked with returning soldiers to help them cope with PTSD — the same ailment that the alleged shooter is said to have suffered from.

Kyle was also the author of a best-selling book released last year, “American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History.”

“Chris Kyle helped establish this foundation and we are committed to make sure his memory lives on forever,” FITCO said in a eulogy to Kyle posted on its website. “Please pray for all those who loved Chris. He will be forever missed.”

The shooting comes amid a raging debate in the United States over gun violence, especially perpetrated by those suffering from mental or emotional illness, after a series of high profile shootings. The effort to ban assault rifles and high capacity magazines has become a centrepiece of President Barack Obama’s second term agenda after a disturbed young man gunned down 20 children and six adults on December 14 in the once quiet town of Newtown, Connecticut, in one of the most notorious of the recent shootings.—AFP