...
By Shane Croucher and Marni Rose McFall
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The husband of Jonathan Joss has said the San Antonio shooting that killed the King of the Hill voice actor was a homophobic attack.
Joss, 59, was shot dead at around 7 p.m. on Sunday. Police arrested Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, and charged him with murder over the shooting.
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Our investigation has found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation. We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly."
Read More on News
...
The Context
Joss was best known for playing John Redcorn in the animated comedy King of the Hill, and Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation.
The U.S. has seen an increase in hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. In 2023, there were 2,402 reported hate crime incidents targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation, marking a 23 percent increase from the 1,947 incidents in 2022, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
What To Know
Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said they were checking the mail at their former Texas home—which had been targeted in a previous arson attack—when they were approached by a man who "started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us."
"He then raised a gun from his lap and fired," he wrote in a post on Joss' Facebook page.
"Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life."
Gonzales said in his post that he and his husband had been "harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship," and that much of this harassment was "openly homophobic."
Ceja has been charged with first-degree felony murder, and his bond was set at $200,000.
...
Tributes have poured in for Joss from fans and his former castmates. His Parks and Recreation co-stars, Nick Offerman and Chris Pratt, have both shared messages of support online.
Offerman described the shooting as a "terrible tragedy," while Pratt said that Joss was "always such a kind dude."
What People Are Saying
Tristan Kern de Gonzales said in a statement on Facebook: "Jonathan is my husband. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get... He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved."
Nick Offerman said in a statement to People magazine: "The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken... Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy."
What Happens Next
The investigation into Joss' death is ongoing. Ceja's court date is scheduled for August.
Gonzales wrote on social media that no plans had yet been made for a celebration of his husband's life, but said he would issue further updates.
Update 6/3/25, 13:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the SAPD.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines