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RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WACH) - A Richland County sheriff's deputy was killed Wednesday in Afghanistan while serving with the National Guard.

Sheriff Leon Lott announced the death of Deputy Ryan Rawl, 30, Thursday in a media conference at the Richland County Sheriff's Department headquarters.

Rawl was killed in the line of duty Wednesday, June 20 in Afghanistan.

The South Carolina National Guard says Rawl was one of three South Carolina Army Guardmen assigned to the 133rd Military Police Company killed in Khowst City, Khowst Province, Afghanistan after his patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber.

Lott says Rawl began his career with the Richland County Sheriff's Department in 2005 after graduating from the Citadel in 2004. He first worked as a patrol deputy and then became a School Resource Offcer assigned to Crayton Middle School.

Rawl is remembered by the department as a hard working, energetic individual who loved his country. He joined the South Carolina National Guard and his unit went active in 2011.

Rawl was expected to return this September.  He is survived by a wife and two children.