Martinsville Bulletin -- First Lt. Leevi Khole Barnard, 28, of Ararat in Patrick County, has been killed in action while serving on his third tour of duty in Iraq, according to his grandfather, Thomas L. Barnard of Ararat.

Barnard said the family was notified of the death at midnight Thursday. He said they have few details of the incident, except that there were eight servicemen involved and three were killed. He was not sure when or where the incident occurred.

Barnard was the son of Pamela Jane Barnard Payne of Patrick County, the daughter of Thomas Barnard and his wife, Daisy Barnard.

First Lt. Barnard went to Blue Ridge Elementary School and graduated from Patrick County High School in 1998, according to a release from Patrick County School Superintendent Roger Morris.

Thomas Barnard said his grandson was in JROTC in high school and then worked and also went to school after he graduated. He had been in the military for several years, Barnard said.