Loveland U.S. Army Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

LOVELAND, CO -- A Loveland U.S. Army soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan on Monday. Spc. Gabriel D. Conde, 22, was fatally wounded by small-arms fire in the Tagab District, a statement from the U.S. Army said.

Conde was stationed in Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

The incident is still under investigation, the Army said.

The Berthoud High School graduate and former track team member enlisted in the army in August 2015, and was killed weeks before his deployment was scheduled to end, the Loveland Reporter-Herald reported.

Kiah Leonard, 21, a friend and daughter of Conde's cross-country coach described Conde as someone who loved the outdoors and was a "character" who made people laugh, the Reporter-Herald said.

"It's definitely a hard loss," Kiah said. "Gabe was one of my best friends; we continued to build on a really great friendship."

Image via U.S. Army