Jonathan Joss, the renowned actor best known for his role as John Redcorn on the animated television series “King of the Hill” and as Chief Ken Hotate in the mockumentary series “Parks and Recreation,” was fatally shot on Sunday in San Antonio. His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared the heartbreaking news in a statement on Facebook, revealing that Joss, 59, was visiting the site of his burned-down home to check the mail when the tragic incident occurred.
Kern de Gonzales disclosed that the couple had endured “two years of threats” and homophobic harassment leading up to the shooting. This disturbing context adds a layer of complexity to the case, as the couple had faced ongoing intimidation prior to this violent act.
According to a statement from the San Antonio police, officers responded to reports of a shooting on Sunday evening in the southern part of the city. Upon arrival, they discovered Joss lying on the roadway. Despite their efforts to perform lifesaving measures, he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have detained a suspect identified as Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, who was arrested around 7 p.m. on the same day and has been charged with murder. As of Tuesday morning, Ceja Alvarez remained in custody without yet being assigned an attorney, as reported by the Bexar County district clerk’s office.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the San Antonio police stated that there was “no evidence” to suggest that Joss’s murder was motivated by his sexual orientation, despite online speculation labeling it a hate crime. Kern de Gonzales, who witnessed the shooting, recounted that a man approached them, yelling violent homophobic slurs before pulling out a gun and firing.
This incident is particularly tragic, as earlier this year, Joss had spoken to local TV station KSAT about the vandalism of his childhood home, which resulted in power and gas being cut off, ultimately leading to a devastating fire that claimed the lives of the couple’s three dogs.
Local media reports indicate that Ceja Alvarez was Joss’s neighbor, and neighbors have noted ongoing disputes between the two. The community is mourning the loss of a talented individual who made significant contributions to the representation of Native Americans in media.
Over his extensive career, Jonathan Joss, who was of White Mountain Apache and Comanche descent, portrayed various Native American characters across film, television, and video games. His impressive body of work includes appearances in popular series like “Ray Donovan,” “Tulsa King,” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He also lent his voice to iconic video games such as “Wasteland 3,” “Cyberpunk 2077,” “The Walking Dead: Michonne,” and “Red Dead Redemption.” Notably, he was expected to reprise his role in a Hulu reboot of “King of the Hill,” the Emmy-winning series that aired for over 13 seasons on Fox starting in 1997.
In a poignant statement, Kern de Gonzales reflected on their relationship, stating, “We were newlyweds. We picked Valentine's Day. We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future.” This tragic loss serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues of violence and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
This article has been updated to correct a previous error regarding the suspect's name. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez was incorrectly identified as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja based on misinformation provided by the police.
