FORT CHAFFEE, Ark.  —  An Army soldier was fatally shot during a live-fire training exercise in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan (search), officials said.

The soldier, whose name wasn't immediately released, was shot Friday night and died later at a hospital at nearby Fort Smith (search). Authorities did not disclose any further details. An investigation was under way.

The victim was one of 2,000 soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (search) that traveled from Fort Polk, La., to Fort Chaffee in preparation for its deployment to Afghanistan next spring.

Army Maj. Alan Stout called the death tragic. "It's hard when you see your comrade go down. It's very hard," he said.