A Marine from Douglas County was killed Thursday in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Lance Cpl. Scott D. Harper, 21, of Winston, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, military officials said.

Harper was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Harper was a 2008 graduate of Alexander High School, where he was an outgoing student and active in ROTC, the Douglas County Sentinel reported.

A moment of silence was observed for Harper before the start of Friday night's football game between Alexander and Chapel Hill high schools, both in Douglas County.