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GREENSBORO — A U.S. Marine from Randolph County was shot in the head Wednesday while on duty in Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Phoenix Jacob Levy underwent surgery, and his vital signs were stabilized enough for him to fly to Frankfurt, Germany, for more treatment, said Levy's stepfather, Kevin Sheek of Ramseur.

On Thursday, Levy's mother, Amanda Sheek, flew from Greensboro to Washington, landing about 6 p.m. She plans to fly to Germany on Friday to be with her son, Kevin Sheek said. Levy's biological father will meet her there.

In the meantime, Kevin Sheek said, the family is relying on his faith and the prayers of family, friends and co-workers to cope with the news they received Wednesday afternoon.

"It has been a whirlwind of both emotions and well wishes," Kevin Sheek said. "I have a prayer chain that goes from here to Kentucky to Texas to Oregon and 10 other states on Facebook."

Family and close friends call Levy “Jacob.” The military and classmates call him “Chris,” Sheek said. His middle name, “Phoenix,” is his Lumbee name. He was proud of his Native American heritage, Kevin Sheek said.

Levy, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, is the oldest of three boys. He graduated from Eastern Randolph High School in 2009, where he was a wrestler and standout cross country runner.

“Basic training was a breeze for him,” Kevin Sheek said.

He could run a six-minute mile and had 7 percent body fat.

Military service is common in Kevin and Amanda Sheek’s family, so the influence was there, Kevin Sheek said. Levy joined the Junior ROTC in the seventh grade and decided to join the Marines in the 10th grade, signing the enlistment papers before he graduated in 2009.

This tour in Afghanistan, for which he volunteered, was Levy’s second. Levy was an infantry rifleman and machine gunner who previously helped train Kenyan soldiers, Kevin Sheek said.

On Wednesday, Levy was shot while on patrol in an area in Afghanistan that was “deemed nonhostile,” Kevin Sheek said.

The Marine Corps has not described to the family how the incident occurred or if any of Levy’s comrades were injured, he said.

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com