Navy: No evidence sailor's death was terrorism-related

 

The Navy said today  there is no indication the shooting death of a sailor standing guard at Camp Pendleton was "terrorist-related" or a hate crime.

Seaman August Provost, 29, of Houston, was fatally shot while standing guard protecting the landing craft facility on base. His body was found at about 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Provost, according to his family and gay-activists, was gay. Two members of Congress, Bob Filner (D-Chula Vista) and Susan Davis (D-San Diego), have asked the military to investigate whether Provost was murdered because he is gay.

A sailor dubbed a "person of interest" is in the brig at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, although no charges have been filed.

On Thursday, Navy Capt. Matt Brown, director of public affairs for Navy Region Southwest, said Provost, who enlisted in March 2008, was a "rising star in our Navy" who was preparing to deploy soon and was considering advanced education and commissioning.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is "continuing to aggressively pursue all aspects of this case," Brown said.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: August Provost. Credit: www.queerty.com