SC sheriff: Richland deputy killed in Afghanistan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 30-year-old Richland County sheriff’s deputy has been killed while serving with the South Carolina National Guard in Afghanistan.

In a news release, Sheriff Leon Lott says Deputy Ryan Rawl was killed Wednesday while on duty. He offered no details about the death and a confirmation was not immediately available from the Department of Defense.

Lott says Rawl joined the sheriff’s department in 2005 after graduating from The Citadel. He worked as a patrolman and later as a resource officer at Crayton Middle School in Columbia.

Lott says Rawl’s unit was activated last year and he was due to return home in September.

Lott says Rawl was hard working, energetic and an example to all brave Americans who serve in uniform.