. >> reporter: in 2013 kyle and his close friend chad littlefield were murdered on a texas gun range by eddie ray routh, a struggling vet they were trying to help. >> we the jury find the defendant, eddie ray routh, guilty. >> reporter: it was the "american sniper" trial. >> that was so, so wrong. i don't know how every branch of the media portrayed it. >> reporter: i said the words. i bought into it. it was the "american sniper" trial. >> we resent that because it was just then about the loss of chris. the loss of chris was no more of a tragedy than loss of chad littlefield. >> reporter: on the heels of the film's success and the trial, a texas congressman introduced a bill to posthumously honor kyle the medal of honor. >> if you knew chris, you would know he would never ever want that. he never saw himself as a hero. >> reporter: the kyles honor their son through a foundation that supports veterans causes. they are moved by the tributes of strangers for their son and are happy to have the trial behind them. >> we never had any peace to try to grieve, i guess, ourselves. but once th

who killed kyle and chad littlefield was sentenced to life in prison without parole.holt's exclusive interview this morning on "today." >>> we want to say happy birthday to eddie murphy who turned 54. "30 rock" actor alec baldwin is 57. legendary actress doris day is 91. good health to all of them. keep it right here for more news, weather and sports. thanks for watching "early today." have a great friday and a terrific weekend, everyone. >>> officers could lose their jobs. san francisco police chief greg s surr responding to an investigation into racest text messages. >>> partying well into the night, the two south bay bars packed as the community comes together to support the family of a fallen police officer. >>> what a disgraced south bay politician is doing today to avoid more jail time. >>> a live look outside this morning, the bay bridge from the emeryville perspective. it is friday april the 3rd and you are watching "today in the bay." and a good friday morning. it's 4:30.

the loss of chris was no more of a tragedy than loss of chad littlefield.on the heals of the film's success and trial, a texas congressman introduced a bill to posthumousl honor kyle. >> he never saw himself as a hero. >> reporter: the kyles honor their son through a foundation that supports veterans causes. they are moved by the tributes of strangers for their son and happy to have the trial behind them. >> we never had any peace to try to grieve, i guess, ourselves. but once they came back with that guilty verdict, it was like okay that chapter is closed. and there was a sense of relief. >> in february the man who killed kyle and chad littlefield was sentenced to life in prison without parole. >>> still ahead for us here tonight, the loss of a legendary figure on television. >>> also tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings. the threat across a huge part of the country again. al roker will join us in a moment. >>> and later, saying good-bye to the '60s. we're onset among the last cameras there with the cast and ♪ is it the insightful strategies and analyt

chris kyle and his friend chad littlefield. it took the jury in texas less than two hours to convict him. >>> well after the break, a story getting a lot of attention on facebook today. a look how tea >>> i'm zachary kiesch here at the national zoo. monday coming up changeses they year. "operation safe zone." a group of leaders, activists and community leaders coming together to address issues in the past. a few bad apples out here and they need to reiterate most of the young people who come out enjoy themselves and do the right things but in years' past there have been issues here. this year they're trying to do proactive measures. getting people to do the right thing and wrapping this around another anniversary happening. the assassination of dr. martin luther king and using his principles trying to get young people to embrace social responsibility borrowing quotes like silence is a form of betrayal amend practice on citizenship. step up to the plate, do the right thing. exercise compassion empathy, and just do the right thin

he said there was another man that was killed chad littlefield as you just mentioned. the "american sniper" trial, that was glossed over, and you know he made a good point. i said you know you're right. then he talked about being in that courtroom, coming face to face with the man that killed his son. here is some of what he had to say. >> it's been the toughest two plus years of our life. >> what was it like to sit in the courtroom with him? >> it was horrible. i mean gut wrenching. just one of those deals that you just want to jump over that railing and kill him with your bare hands. >> that was part of our conversation. and now they feel the trial is behind them and they can grieve. it has been very difficult because they have been living -- they lost a son, you know but he became this action figure movie action figure and of course the book had come out, they have been through a lot. at the end of the day, it's their son. >> you have this tonight on "nightly." what else do you have coming up? >> the story of this sailor at sea 66 days. a lot of people are skeptical

for the first time since the trial of the man who killed chris kyle and chad littlefield, we're hearing kyle's father. lester good morning to you. >> good morning, good to see you. wayne kyle said he always told his son chris, don't ever start a fight, but better make sure you ended. that's how chris kyle would see his role as a navy s.e.a.l. during four combat tours in iraq. his father wayne talked to me about the trial, his son's critics, and his uneasiness about the movie "american sniper." >> we never had any peace to try to grieve. once they came back with that guilty verdict, it was like okay, that chapter is closed. and there was a sense of relief. >> as movie goers are flocking to see american sniper in theaters. wayne kyle was in a courtroom, watching the man who killed his son stand trial for murder. >> what was it like to sit in the courtroom with him? >> oh, gosh it was horrible. i mean gut wrenching. it's just one of those deals that you just want to jump over that railing and, you know, kill him with your bare hands. >> in 2013 chris kyle and his close friend chad littlefi

a "today" exclusive, for the first time since the trial of the man who killed chad littlefield, we arerom chris kyle's father. good morning to you. >> he said he always told his son, chris, don't you ever start a fight, but you better make sure you end it. he would see his role as a navy s.e.a.l. he talked about the trial and critics and uneasiness about the movie, american sniper. >> we never had any peace to try to grieve. once they came back with the guilty verdict, it was like okay that chapter is closed. there was a sense of relief. >> as movie-goers, we are flocking to see american sniper in theaters. wayne kyle was in a courtroom, watching the man who killed his son stand trial for murder. >> what was it like to sit in the courtroom with him? >> it was gut brunching. one of the deals that you want to jump over the railing and kill him with your bare hands. >>> chris tile and his close friend were murdered on a texas gun range with a struggling vet they were trying to help. >> you worried about him in combat. you didn't worry about him going to a range. >> you knew who the enemy