A Canadian reserve soldier was killed in a non-combat shooting in Afghanistan, the Department of National Defence confirmed Tuesday.
The soldier is identified as Cpl. Kevin Megeney, a reservist from Stellarton, N.S. and member of the 1st Battallion Nova Scotia Highlanders.
"We are looking hard at this," said Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of Task Force Afghanistan.
"No further details are available at this time regarding the circumstances surrounding this incident, although enemy action has been ruled out, since the incident occurred within the secure confines of Kandahar Airfield."
Cessford said Joint Task Force Afghanistan's National Investigation Service Detachment is investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, family members say Megeney, 25, was killed in a friendly-fire shooting. Megeney's sister, Lisa, told the Canadian Press that her younger brother was apparently in his tent when he was shot.
"It was friendly fire, that's all I know," she told CP as military officials briefed the family on the incident which DND says occurred just after 7 p.m. in Kandahar.
Military officials told CTV's Tom Clark in Kandahar that Megeney died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. "He was dead about 20 minutes after he was brought to the hospital here," said Clark.
Megeney, the youngest of three siblings, had been in Afghanistan since Dec. 8 with the Nova Scotia Highlanders. Generations of the Megeney family have enlisted with that regiment.
Lisa Megeney said her brother was excited to be going to the war-torn country, despite fears amongst family members that he might be injured.
"He said that he was going to help people," she said. "He wanted to turn things around, so the Afghanis could live like we live.... He took so much pride in it."
Military officials told CTV that the corporal will be honoured in a ramp ceremony.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the death of Cpl. Megeney:
"On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I extend my sympathies to the family, friends and loved ones of Corporal Kevin Megeney, and I hope they can find strength in knowing that he will be remembered for his achievements and honourable service to his country," Harper said in a statement.
News of the incident broke as the Canadian military was expected to announce that a large group of reservists from Western Canada will be deployed to Afghanistan to compensate for a troop shortfall.
Reservists serve either in full-time or part-time position within the Canadian forces. Currently, there are 400 to 600 reservists in Afghanistan.
Megeney's death brings to 45 the number of Canadian soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002. A Canadian diplomat also lost his life in Afghanistan.
Six Canadian soldiers have been killed in accidental or friendly-fire incidents since 2002.
With a report from CTV's Tom Clark and the Canadian Press in Kandahar
