( CNN ) Everyone knows who Chris Kyle was -- the `` American Sniper . '' That may make work challenging for a small Texas county tasked with giving his accused killer , Eddie Ray Routh , a fair trial . Jury selection is set for Thursday , and an Erath County court will begin sifting through 800 hundred potential jurors , the Stephenville Empire-Tribune reported . An attorney for Routh wants the trial 's venue moved , saying a fair trial is impossible there . With a population of just under 40,000 people , the defense says it might be hard to find even a handful who : . Kyle , who claimed to be the deadliest sniper in U.S. history for his 160 confirmed kills in Iraq , had already risen to fame for his bestselling autobiography , `` American Sniper , '' when he died on February 2 , 2013 . Kyle had taken Routh and another man to a firing range . Routh , an unemployed former Marine , was one of them . He suffered from severe PTSD . Kyle was doing charitable work to help former soldiers suffering from the psychological disorder . The other man with them was Chad Littlefield , who was Kyle 's friend . It was a Saturday , and the three men arrived at the Rough Creek Lodge , about 90 miles southwest of Dallas after 3 p.m . The range makes up a small , remote part of the sprawling 11,000-acre resort , and the men were isolated . `` So , there was n't anybody anywhere close to that , '' Sheriff Tommy Bryant said back then . There were no witnesses to the killing of Kyle and Littlefield . Less than two hours after they had arrived , a hunting guide passing by found the two victims motionless , went to the lodge and called 911 . Kyle and Littlefield were dead when officers arrived . Routh was gone , and so was Kyle 's black Ford pickup . Law enforcement put out an all-points bulletin . Routh drove up in it at his sister 's house 65 miles away , police said . She called 911 . `` I 'm terrified for my life , '' she said . Routh had told her that he killed two men . `` They went out to a shooting range . Like , he 's all crazy , '' Routh 's sister told authorities . `` My husband is going to talk to you , because I 'm so nervous . '' Routh got back into the truck and hit the road again , police said . But he was easy to find . Officers caught up with him that evening at his home in a Dallas suburb . While talking with police , he jumped back into the truck and sped off again , police say . They gave chase and stopped him after spiking his tires . He did not struggle when they arrested him , police said . Routh 's attorney has said his client will plead not guilty by reason of insanity . Kyle learned to shoot on hunting trips with his father , then went on to serve four combat tours in Iraq with the SEALs , though his official biography notes he also worked with Army and Marine units . He received two Silver Stars and other commendations before leaving the Navy in 2009 -- claiming that , in his years as a sniper , he 'd killed more than 150 people , which he called a record for an American . He said that while killing did not come easy at first , he knew it meant saving lives . `` The first time , you 're not even sure you can do it , '' he said in the interview . `` But I 'm not over there looking at these people as people . I 'm not wondering if he has a family . I 'm just trying to keep my guys safe . '' Kyle 's story and the movie made from it have triggered broad enthusiasm but also drawn critics and doubts about his accounts . A sniper 's view : 'When you are bred to kill , you know ' Correction : Earlier versions of this report incorrectly described the military background of Chad Littlefield , who was killed with Chris Kyle . Littlefield was not a veteran . CNN 's Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
Eddie Ray Routh is accused of killing Chris Kyle at an isolated outdoor firing range . Kyle , Routh and Chad Littlefield had gone there to shoot .