Jonathan Campos, a 32-year-old sailor from Lancaster, California who faced 16 charges, including arson, unlawful entry, theft of military property, wrongful possession of a firearm, and the murder of fellow seaman August Provost, took his life while in custody:
"Campos…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."
The L.A. Times adds, "Campos…had apparently asphyxiated himself with toilet paper, officials said. He had been on suicide watch in the brig…"
