Stellarton has lowered its flags to honour Cpl. Kevin Megeney, who died of a gunshot wound Tuesday in Afghanistan.

Mayor Joe Gennoe says the town was shocked to hear about the death of the 25-year-old reservist at the main base in Kandahar.

Cpl. Kevin Megeney was shot in the chest while in his tent at Kandahar Air Base.
(Department of National Defence/ Canadian Press)

"It's a terrible thing," he told CBC News. "I happened to be in the Town Hall when I got the word and the chief of police and I, we went outside and put the flag down to half-mast."

Gennoe said he will offer the town's condolences to the family and do whatever is necessary to help them cope.

Megeney has been in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders since early December.

The last time many people saw Megeney was in November, when 2,000 supporters rallied for the troops. In an interview with CBC News, he said he was overwhelmed by the show of support.

Eric Nowell, who knows the Megeney family well, said residents feel close to the soldiers.

"It's a moment of sadness," Nowell said. "We all know them. We know who they are and we know their families, and it's a tragic thing for all of us."

Former Nova Scotia premier John Hamm, also from Stellarton, knew Megeney.

"Losing a young man like that obviously will affect the entire community," Hamm said. "However, one of the things that has always impressed me is the determination of the soldiers who go to Afghanistan to represent us well and to get the job done."

The military investigation into Megeney's death continues.

The Defence Department said Tuesday Megeney was accidentally shot in the chest while in his tent, and enemy action has been ruled out.

Megeney is the eighth soldier from Nova Scotia killed in Afghanistan since 2002.