Gays plan vigil for slain sailor

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., July 10 (UPI) -- Gay activists said they would hold a candlelight vigil outside Camp Pendleton, Calif., Friday to honor a gay sailor fatally shot while on sentry duty.

U.S. Navy officials said last week they had no indication the shooting of Navy Seaman August Provost was a hate crime. Several relatives and gay advocacy groups claim Provost, 29, of Houston, had been harassed because he was open about his homosexuality, the Navy Times reported Friday.

The Times reported a sailor is the top suspect in the June 30 death, which Navy officials called a homicide.

Navy officials said the shooting remained under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Times said.

The suspect, who has not been identified, was being held at the Camp Pendleton brig after a hearing Wednesday, said Brian O'Rourke, a spokesman for Navy Region-Southwest in San Diego.

No charges had been filed as of Thursday, the Times said.

Tina Leight-Roades, a board member of the North (San Diego) County Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual Coalition, told the Los Angeles Times the vigil was meant to let military officials know "we are not going to let this one go until we have answers."

Provost was buried Friday in Houston.