Sailor charged in Camp Pendleton shooting death of seaman
Friday, July 24th, 2009SAN DIEGO – A sailor has been charged with fatally shooting and burning a gay serviceman last month at Camp Pendleton, but Navy officials said Thursday 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 the San Diego Naval Base.
Campos, 32, of Lancaster, faces 16 charges, including murder, arson, unlawful entry, theft of military property and wrongful possession of a firearm. He also is charged with soliciting a civilian in San Diego to murder another sailor the day after Provost’s killing.
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.
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