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July 3, 2009

Navy investigates gay sailor's death in California

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The death of a gay sailor who was killed as he stood guard at Camp Pendleton doesn't appear to be a hate crime, officials said Thursday.

Seaman August Provost of Houston was found shot multiple times Tuesday in what investigators are calling a random act unrelated to the 29-year-old's sexuality.

"It is clear to the investigators right now that it could have been any sailor standing watch," Navy spokesman Capt. Matt Brown told The Associated Press.

Some in the gay community had called for a hate crimes probe. Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chairman of the San Diego Human Relations Commission, said Provost's family told her that personnel on the base had been harassing the sailor.

Earlier in the day, Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of San Diego, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said he would call for a Defense Department probe to see if the killing was a hate crime.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has taken a "person of interest" into custody but had not filed any charges. Navy officials said he had made incriminating statements that tied him to the killing, though these statements did not constitute a confession.

Another sailor was questioned and released Wednesday.

Brown said Provost's killer burned the guard shack to cover up evidence.

Brown described Provost as "a rising star in our Navy," who entered the service in March 2008. He had completed basic training and subsequent technical schools and was beginning preparations for overseas deployment.

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