Suspect in sailor's death found dead

A sailor charged with killing and burning Seaman August Provost during an arson attack at Camp Pendleton on June 30 was found dead in the base's brig Friday afternoon, the Navy said in a news release.

Petty Officer Jonathan Campos, 32, of Lancaster apparently died of self-inflicted asphyxiation, said Brian O'Rourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.

Brig staff members had checked on Campos about 11:45 a.m. and found him in “satisfactory condition,” O'Rourke said. At 12:21 p.m., however, he was found “unresponsive on his cot.”

The staff administered CPR and took Campos to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Both Campos and Provost, who was gay, were assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5. Gay-rights leaders and some of Provost's friends and relatives have expressed concern that Provost might have been killed because of his sexual orientation. The Navy has said there was no evidence of a hate crime.

Officials alleged that Campos shot Provost several times while Provost stood watch at the assault-craft unit's entrance. They also alleged that Campos set fire to the guard shack with Provost's body inside.

The Navy has said it was apparently part of a crime spree, saying that Campos also planned to set fire to one of the unit's landing craft but didn't make it inside the compound.

In the charges related to Provost's death, Campos was also accused of breaking into the off-base home of a fellow service member June 13 and stealing several items, including the .45-caliber Kimber pistol that was used to kill Provost.

Campos was also charged with soliciting a civilian to kill another sailor the day after Provost's slaying.

Matthew Rodriguez: (760) 737-7577;


