Jonathan Joss, the 59-year-old voice actor best known for portraying John Redcorn on the animated series “King of the Hill,” was fatally shot outside his San Antonio home on June 1. His neighbor, 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting. Police responded to reports of a shooting in progress around 7 p.m. and found Joss lying near the roadway. Officers attempted life-saving measures while waiting for emergency medical services, but paramedics pronounced Joss dead at the scene. Ceja fled in a vehicle but was detained shortly after the incident. The shooting has sparked controversy over potential hate crime allegations and prompted a significant reversal from the San Antonio Police Department. Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged in a Facebook post that the shooting occurred while they were checking mail at their former property. According to de Gonzales, their home had burned down three months earlier following what he described as over two years of threats from neighbors who did not accept their relationship. De Gonzales claimed that during the June 1 incident, he and Joss discovered the skull of one of their dogs in the open, causing them severe emotional distress. He alleged that while they were grieving, a man approached them and began yelling violent homophobic slurs before raising a gun and firing. De Gonzales stated that Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life, and that neither man was armed or threatening anyone.
Initially, the San Antonio Police Department released a statement indicating they had found no evidence to suggest Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation. However, Police Chief William McManus retracted this statement during a June 5 press conference, acknowledging the department’s error. “Shouldn’t have done it,” McManus stated regarding the premature dismissal of hate crime allegations. The police chief admitted the statement was issued too early in the investigation process and expressed understanding for the anxiety felt by the LGBTQ+ community following the department’s initial response. McManus clarified that in Texas, hate crimes are not filed as separate charges but can be used as sentencing enhancements to elevate charges from second-degree to first-degree felonies. The determination of hate crime designation occurs during sentencing rather than at the charging stage.
The investigation has revealed a complex history of neighborhood disputes involving Joss and area residents. Police records show approximately 70 calls over the past two years involving various neighborhood disturbances, with Joss sometimes being the caller and other times being the subject of complaints from neighbors. The department’s mental health unit had extensive engagements with Joss, making repeated efforts to resolve conflicts and connect him with needed services.
Ceja was released on $200,000 bond and placed under house arrest with conditions prohibiting him from purchasing or possessing firearms. He also received a no-contact order and is awaiting indictment. A court-appointed attorney for Ceja has not responded to requests for comment. The case has drawn attention from Joss’ former colleagues in the entertainment industry. Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on both “Parks and Recreation” and “The Magnificent Seven,” paid tribute to the actor on social media, describing him as always being a kind person. Nick Offerman, another “Parks and Recreation” cast member, indicated the show’s cast had been texting about the tragedy and expressed their heartbreak over losing Joss.
Joss appeared in a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate, leader of the fictional Wamapoke Tribe, on the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation” for five years. The show also starred Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Aziz Ansari and Rob Lowe. In addition to his television work, Joss portrayed Denali, an exiled Comanche warrior, in the 2016 Western film “The Magnificent Seven.”
San Antonio homicide detectives and fire department arson investigators are actively investigating both Joss’ murder and the January fire that destroyed his and de Gonzales’ home to determine if the incidents are connected. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
