Prayer vigil Wednesday night for Canyon Country soldier

A prayer vigil was scheduled for Wednesday night for Army Pfc. Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, a combat medic who was killed March 19 while on duty in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said Acosta and Cpl. Donald Mickler Jr., of Ohio, were fatally shot by a gunman who was working for a military security group. The incident is under investigation.

Acosta was posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist, officials said.

He enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating in 2009 from Santa Clarita Christian School, where he played on the football and volleyball teams.

Acosta was to be memorialized at a prayer vigil at Santa Clarita Baptist Church, 27249 Luther Drive, Canyon Country.

"We can't bring Rudy back, but we can serve the Acosta family with honor - just as Rudy served our school, our city and our country," Santa Clarita Christian School Principal Derek Swales said in a statement.

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