Navy Investigating Gay Sailor's Death

The Navy is investigating the death of a gay Sailor from Houston who was shot in the early-morning hours as he guarded an access gate at a Marine Corps base in Southern California.

Prompted by activists' concerns that the death of August Provost, 29, could be a hate crime, a Democratic congressman from California is urging the House Armed Services Committee to launch its own investigation.

"Mr. Provost made the selfless and courageous decision to serve his country, and regardless of his sexual orientation, he should be treated with honor and respect," U.S. Rep. Bob Filner writes in a letter to the committee's chairman.

Seaman Provost's body was found in a guard shack at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Navy. Other reports suggest his body may have been burned.

Another service member, described as a "person of interest," was being held in a Navy brig and is cooperating with authorities, a Navy official said Thursday.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has taken over the case and was waiting for the results of an autopsy and toxicology test before saying exactly how Provost died.

Provost, who lived in the Acres Homes neighborhood, joined the Navy in March 2008.

"I am still not the same, didn't get to sleep until 5 o'clock this morning," said his 20-year-old cousin, Donnie Johnson, who considered Provost an older brother. "He somewhat raised me, made me who I am."

Provost was assigned to a Camp Pendleton-based team of air-cushioned landing craft that could carry troops and equipment from the sea on to the shore.

He had been on security duty as a gate guard -- basically checking identification cards -- when he died, according to the Navy.

"The investigation is ongoing -- we'll look at all angles -- everything that surrounds the case," said Lt. Kyle Raines, a Navy spokesman in San Diego.

"The public should be aware the Navy is taking this very seriously and will investigate this thoroughly to make sure we know all facts that surround the case and take appropriate measures," he said.

Another Navy official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there was nothing pointing to Provost's death being a hate crime.

"As the investigation has progressed and matured, we are finding that to date there is no evidence to support that," he said.

'Never had any problems'

Kaether Cordero, 18, who said he was in a relationship with Provost, said he never expressed any concerns that he was in jeopardy by being openly gay in the military.

"I think that if it is a hate crime I don't understand why somebody would do such a thing," he said. "He never had any problems with anybody about his sexuality."

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit group dedicated to ending the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, said his group was watching the investigation of Provost's death, but it remains to be seen whether being gay was a factor.

"The facts are unfolding and the investigation continues," he said. "We have certainly urge a full and aggressive investigation of the matter."