The body of a Canadian soldier killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan was sent home Wednesday -- the same day the body of a 10-year-old Afghan boy, shot and killed by a Canadian soldier after the attack, was returned to his parents.

Cpl. David Braun's casket was carried onto a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Kandahar Air Field Wednesday night as the Canadian contingent and a delegation of British, American and Dutch soldiers paid their respects.

The 27-year-old from Raymore, Sask. was killed on Tuesday when a suicide attacker struck a Canadian convoy in Kandahar. Three other soldiers were injured in the accident.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor both offered their condolences to Braun's family and friends.

"We are proud of Corporal Braun's contribution to our mission in Afghanistan, and of all our Canadian Forces men and women who soldier on in the name of democratic values and freedom," Harper said in a statement Wednesday.

Braun had been stationed with the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, Man., for four years.

In a statement released by the base, Braun was described as "a motivated, hard-working and proud soldier who loved all aspects of his career in the infantry."

Patty Braun said in a written statement that her son had dreamed of being in the military since he was 12 years old. She said the family is very proud of David's bravery, and asked the public to support the troops in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, an investigation will be held into the shooting of the 10-year-old Afghan, whose death was described by Canada's top general as "devastating."

"Unfortunately in this mission, which is complex and dangerous, the conditions which caused that death to occur are set by a Taliban who refuse to accept the fact that a stable Afghanistan is better for all people,'' Gen. Rick Hillier said on the tarmac of the St. John's airport.

"It's always devastating when you lose anybody, particularly a child.''

The 10-year-old was killed shortly after a suicide attack that killed Braun. Several hours after the bombing, an Afghan teenager and the young boy on a motorcycle ran through a cordon that had been set up around the perimeter of the attack site.

Soldiers were fearful of another suicide attack and fired on the motorcycle after several warnings to stop, NATO said in a statement.

"ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) soldiers signalled the motorbike to stop and fired two warning shots,'' said NATO.

A single bullet passed through the 17-year-old driver, and then struck and killed his 10-year-old passenger.

The teen fled the scene, but later returned to the Canadians for medical help. Both were then airlifted to the military hospital at Kandahar Air Field, where the 10-year-old died of his wounds.

The driver remains in serious but stable condition.

"We are very sad at what happened and we express our deep regret and condolences to the family and community,'' said Col. Arie Vermeij, deputy commander of ISAF's Regional Command South.

The shooting will be investigated by the military's National Investigation Service.

Backlash fears

There are fears that the shooting could spark a backlash, similar to riots that erupted in May after a U.S. military cargo truck killed one man and injured several others in an apparent traffic accident.

About 20 people were killed during the riots.

"I think we need to pass the right message to the Afghan people,'' said Col. Fred Lewis, deputy commander of the Canadian contingent of ISAF.

"The message is that we're here to help them and we certainly would never want to hurt them.''

CTV's Matt McClure, reporting from Kandahar, said this is a very difficult situation, and that soldiers on the base feel as if they are "damned if we do and damned if we don't."

"It's a very, very difficult job; a split second decision," McClure told CTV's Canada AM.

He said there are fears the Taliban will try and use the death of the Afghan boy as propaganda to try and recruit more members.

However, military analyst Scott Taylor said the mission is more likely to receive criticism back in Canada.

"I think they're most concerned about it here at home," he said.

A young Afghan civilian girl and the attacker were also killed in the suicide attack that took place just outside Camp Nathan Smith -- the home of Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the city.

Braun is the eighth Canadian to be killed in southern Afghanistan this month. He is the 27th to die in Canada since ground forces deployed in 2002.

One of the three injured soldiers is expected to be released from hospital and return to his Kandahar unit, while the other two are listed in good condition and will remain in hospital.

Late Monday, two Canadian soldiers were injured in an ambush on Highway One, nicknamed ambush alley by troops.

Cpl. Jesse Melnyck was listed in stable, non-critical condition in Kandahar before being flown to a military hospital in Germany for further treatment.

The other soldier, who was not named, was in hospital at Kandahar Air Field, and is listed in good condition.

With files from The Canadian Press