HOUSTON -- A sailor from Houston has been found dead at California's Camp Pendleton, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Investigators said the death of Navy Seaman August Provost, 29, is possibly a homicide, but how he died is causing controversy.

Provost's body was found Tuesday at about 3 a.m. in a guard shack on the base.

A Navy spokesman confirmed that there was evidence of foul play and that the case is a murder investigation.

Two gay rights activists said Provost's death could be a hate crime. They said they believe he was killed because he was gay or perceived to be gay.

A Naval Criminal Investigative Service spokesman said that a person of interest is in custody at the base, but has not been charged with a crime.

The NCIS would not comment on a possible hate-crime motive for this killing.