The police arrived quickly, and the remaining matters were naturally handled by them. With many eyewitnesses in the lounge and surveillance footage available, the entire incident was clear. However, the biggest question remained Eddie Routh's motive, especially since Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were trying to help him.
Not long after, the police took statements from several people, including Matthew and Margot Robbie, and treated Chris Kyle's wound temporarily.
Chris Kyle had escaped death multiple times on the battlefield in Iraq, and Lady Luck was with him once again this time. The bullet merely grazed his ear, causing a burn from the heat generated by the bullet's trajectory.
To be precise, Eddie Routh's second shot didn't actually hit Chris Kyle.
Matthew also considered himself fortunate. At such close range, facing a deranged veteran who had likely killed before, escaping the line of fire was truly lucky.
After leaving the interview room, Matthew found that Helen Herman had already arrived.
"Damn it!" Helen Herman muttered in a low voice, "How do you always end up in situations like this?"
She complained a bit, then asked, "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Matthew brushed off her concern. "That man was after Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield; I was just unlucky to be there."
As another door opened, Margot Robbie stepped out. She didn't have the same treatment as Matthew, as her agent hadn't arrived.
Matthew nodded in Margot's direction. "I'll go say hi; she did help save me just now."
Helen Herman noticed Margot Robbie approaching and asked, "What happened?"
"That Australian girl is tough. She managed to knock the crazed veteran to his knees," Matthew quickly summarized, then greeted Margot, "How are you? They didn't give you a hard time, did they?"
Margot Robbie shook her head gently. "No, I just had to explain what happened."
Helen Herman went to ask the police officers a few questions and then returned. "Alright, we can leave now."
Matthew looked at Margot Robbie. "Did you drive here?" When she nodded, he added, "Can you still drive? If not, ride with me, and I'll have the club send your car to you later."
Margot thought for a moment, then replied, "I should be fine, no need for the trouble."
Matthew nodded without pushing. He went to check on Chris Kyle, who was visibly distressed, suffering from the pain of losing a friend. Unsure of how to comfort him, Matthew was relieved to see Taya Kyle arrive.
He exchanged a few words with Chris and Taya Kyle before excusing himself.
Taya Kyle whispered that she would take Chris to see a therapist afterward.
The aftermath of war had continued to haunt Chris Kyle.
Matthew, unable to help with this, soon left the shooting club with Helen Herman and Margot Robbie.
Since the incident had occurred in a well-managed, closed environment, the media had yet to catch wind of it; there were no reporters outside.
Margot Robbie bid Matthew farewell and drove off alone.
Not driving himself, Matthew handed his car keys to the club staff and asked them to deliver it later to Horner Manor, then got into Helen Herman's car.
"Do you need to see a therapist?" Helen Herman asked as the driver started the car.
"No need." Matthew had already put the incident behind him. "Helen, since this happened, let's make use of it."
After a brief pause, he continued, "You handle communications with the production's press officer and the media. I'll contact Nebula to get you a copy of the surveillance video. Time it right—I want this incident to boost attention for American Sniper."
While the incident itself couldn't be reversed, it could be leveraged.
Helen Herman added, "Once the news starts spreading, I'll organize a press conference. Also, I'll arrange a donation in your name to a charity supporting veterans."
Matthew nodded. "Coordinate directly with Amanda."
He had no objections to these ideas; donating money now was a way to help American Sniper earn even more down the line.
"Helen, the name Margot Robbie sounds familiar?" Helen Herman asked suddenly.
"She's an Australian actress, a small star," Matthew explained briefly. "Today, she was waiting for me at the shooting range, hoping to win the role of Taya Kyle in American Sniper."
Helen Herman commented, "Anyone who dares to attack an armed assailant is exceptionally brave. I'm not sure I'd have the nerve."
Matthew joked, "You wouldn't leave me to die, right? You'd help, wouldn't you?"
"Not necessarily," Helen replied calmly. "Didn't you once tell me? Nothing is more important than one's own life."
Matthew was speechless for a moment, then thought of Margot Robbie again. She really was courageous.
Back at Horner Manor, Matthew immediately requested Margot Robbie's initial audition tape from American Sniper's casting director. Her acting wasn't outstanding, but it was solid enough to pass.
He then called Clint Eastwood.
Although he could make the casting decision himself, Matthew wanted to show Clint Eastwood mutual respect.
After watching her audition tape, Clint Eastwood returned the call, fully supporting his choice.
Matthew didn't inform Margot Robbie yet; he hadn't even had time to get her contact information during the fast-paced incident. He assigned the task to Helen Herman, who could easily find her agent.
That afternoon, Helen Herman met with Elena Boyar, and soon, news of the shooting incident began appearing online. The first outlets to report were ones Helen Herman had coordinated with, so their coverage favored Matthew's side.
The police also confirmed the incident's authenticity, and a small press briefing was held that evening.
The next day, Helen Herman held a press conference on Matthew's behalf, and the media was abuzz with coverage. Articles about "Matthew Horner and Chris Kyle facing a gunman, taking down the assailant together!" flooded the news, with many mentioning Margot Robbie's involvement, as Matthew had instructed Helen Herman.
During the press conference, Helen Herman emphasized the bravery of this Australian actress.
This was a small reward for her bravery, which also benefited the production. Matthew had decided to cast Margot Robbie as the female lead in American Sniper.
Just like the Burbank drug dealer shooting incident, this event generated immense media buzz, bringing American Sniper significant attention.
It also brought renewed focus to the struggles of veterans.
The U.S. had longstanding issues in supporting its veterans, leading to a cascade of problems. It was as if the burden had become too vast to manage effectively.
With media strength in North America, they soon secured an exclusive interview with Eddie Routh.
It was during this interview that Matthew realized the severity of Eddie Routh's mental health issues.
Routh's statements revealed a simple but chilling sentiment: he felt worthless and saw himself as a failure after Iraq, while Kyle and Littlefield had seemingly perfect lives, a stark contrast to his own. He resented their sympathy, interpreting it as a mockery of his shattered life, so he sought to destroy them as a response.
In other words, no matter what Kyle and Littlefield did, Routh viewed it as a scornful reminder of his own failures.
While the trauma of war is tragic, it grants no one the right to kill.
Furthermore, Routh had endangered Matthew's life as well.
Many others, including Chris Kyle, suffered from similar issues, but he chose to address his pain by helping others. Unfortunately, this nearly cost him his life.
Matthew couldn't do much, but he resolved that Eddie Routh would never leave prison.
Some tabloids published bizarre stories, with one even interviewing Routh's sister, who claimed Kyle and Littlefield had taunted him through messages. Yet, she provided no evidence of these messages.
This matter needed no further discussion. If insults alone justified murder, every internet troll would be at risk.
Matthew didn't let this incident distract him. He continued preparations for American Sniper, and after Helen Herman reached out to Margot Robbie's agent, Bella Anderson quickly finalized her contract. For an actress at Robbie's level, the opportunity was more valuable than the paycheck.
The buzz around American Sniper continued to grow, and by mid-October, the film officially began shooting in the desert areas of Southern California.
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