CAMP PENDLETON — A sailor has been charged with fatally shooting and burning a gay serviceman last month at Camp Pendleton, but Navy officials yesterday said it was part of a crime spree not related to the victim's sexual orientation.
Prosecutors accuse Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Campos of killing Seaman August Provost during an arson attack against the compound of Assault Craft Unit 5 on June 30, said Capt. Matt Brown, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.
Brown again stressed that there's no evidence of a hate crime or gang-related activity.
“It is essential to remember the Navy lost a well-respected sailor standing guard at his assigned post,” he said during a news conference at San Diego Naval Base at 32nd Street.
Campos, 32, of Lancaster, faces 16 charges, including murder, arson, unlawful entry, theft of military property and wrongful possession of a firearm. He's also charged with soliciting a civilian in San Diego to kill another sailor the day after Provost's slaying.
Brown said Campos and Provost served in the 500-member assault-craft unit, whose members are trained to pilot jet-powered hovercraft onto beaches for amphibious operations.
Brown added that the two probably had met before, but that there's no evidence to suggest they knew each other well. Campos had served with the unit for most of the past two years, while Provost joined the Navy in March 2008 after completing three years of college and had joined the unit in September.
Navy officials also accuse Campos of using hallucinogenic mushrooms several times between May 1 and June 2.
Officials said that on June 13, Campos allegedly broke into the off-base home of a fellow service member in San Diego and stole an Xbox computer-game system, jewelry and a .45-caliber Kimber pistol, adding the same pistol was used to kill Provost.
On June 20, Campos was picked up on suspicion of driving under the influence. About a week later, he faced administrative punishment from his Navy commanders.
At the time, the Navy hadn't linked Campos to the home burglary, Brown said.
About 11:30 p.m. June 30, Provost took his post at a guard shack along the driveway to the assault-craft unit's entrance.
Navy officials say that sometime before 3:30 a.m., Campos approached the guard shack, shot Provost several times and stole his 9?mm Beretta service pistol. Campos then allegedly set fire to the shack — with Provost's body still inside — using gasoline and a lighter.
“He apparently did it to destroy evidence,” Brown said.
Campos also is accused of planning to set fire to one of the unit's landing craft, but he never made it into the compound.
Brown didn't specify why Campos became a suspect, but said that Campos failed to show up for work before being arrested July 1. The defendant is being held at the Miramar Naval Consolidated Brig.
Provost's death has prompted concerns from gay-rights leaders and some of his relatives and friends who believe he might have been killed because of his sexual orientation. Gay activists held a candlelight vigil July 10 near Camp Pendleton's main gate.
Yesterday, Provost's aunt said she's still not sure what to think about the killer's motive.
“We just want justice to be done, and we hope to one day understand why the killer would target someone as good and responsible as my nephew,” said Rose Roy of Beaumont, Texas.
The Navy hasn't announced a date for Campos' pretrial hearing, called an Article 32 proceeding.
from The San Diego Union-Tribune
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