The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that a 24-year-old Marine from Leesburg was killed in Afghanistan.

Military officials said in a statement Thursday that Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton died May 26 while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense statement said Sutton was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sutton was deployed in January.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors. Sutton's wife, Toni Sutton, said he was amazing husband and stepfather.

Tags: Afghanistan, Afghanistan war, Georgia soldiers, U.S. Marines, fallen soldier, Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton