A statue honoring Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in American military history, has been created for his widow.
The sculpture was initially meant to honor all marines and would be donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation or the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, but the artist’s friend and promoter asked that Kyle be the model, Military Times reports.
Kyle, a former chief special warfare operator, died on a Texas gun range Feb. 2; police said the SEAL and a friend were shot and killed by a former Marine whom Kyle reportedly had been helping deal with post-traumatic stress.
Kyle’s 160 confirmed kills — unconfirmed kills could push that figure past 250 — are the most in U.S. military history. He earned two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars with "V" devices, among other decorations, according to Navy personnel records.
The artist decided to donate the statue to Kyle’s widow, Tara.
