No charges in Navy trainees death

The Navy will not file criminal charges in the drowning of Seaman James Derek Lovelace during SEAL training in Coronado, Calif., nearly one year ago. The San Diego County medical examiner ruled the 21-year-old Crestview, Fla., sailor’s death on May 6, 2016, in a swim tank, as a homicide, saying in an autopsy report that the “actions, or inactions, of the instructors and other individuals involved were excessive and directly contributed to the death.” But Navy Cmdr. Liam Hulin, director of Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command, reviewed the findings of an NCIS probe and determined Lovelace’s drowning “was not the result of a crime and will not pursue criminal charges against any personnel in connection with the death.” The autopsy revealed that a SEAL instructor repeatedly dunked Lovelace and that his drowning was exacerbated by an anomalous coronary artery that may have contributed to sudden cardiac death. A safety review on the training will now begin. Navy officials said they briefed Lovelace’s father in Florida on April 8 about Hulin’s conclusions. (Source: San Diego Times Union 04/10/17)