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, 2025. 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 Joss was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. Ceja fled in a vehicle but was detained shortly after the incident.
The actor’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged in a Facebook post that the shooting occurred while he and Joss were checking their mail at the site of their former home. According to de Gonzales, their house had burned down three months prior following more than two years of threats from neighbors who allegedly did not accept their relationship. He claimed much of the harassment was openly homophobic.
De Gonzales stated that when they discovered the skull of one of their dogs at the property, they began crying in emotional distress. He alleged that Ceja approached them, yelled violent homophobic slurs, then raised a gun from his lap and fired. De Gonzales claimed that Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life, and that neither he nor Joss were armed or threatening anyone.
Initially, San Antonio Police released a statement saying they had found no evidence to indicate Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation. However, Police Chief William P. McManus later retracted this statement during a press conference on June 5, acknowledging it was premature.
McManus stated, “Shouldn’t have done it. It was way too soon before we had real information.” The police chief explained that the department’s earlier dismissal of hate crime allegations occurred before investigators had gathered sufficient information about the case.
McManus clarified that in Texas, hate crimes are not filed as separate charges but are used as sentencing enhancements. The designation is typically determined during sentencing rather than at the charging phase, with prosecutors gathering facts to present to the district attorney’s office.
The investigation has revealed a pattern 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.
Homicide detectives and San Antonio Fire Department arson investigators are now examining potential connections between Joss’s murder and the January fire that destroyed his home. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding both incidents.
Ceja was released on a $200,000 bond and placed under house arrest with conditions prohibiting him from purchasing or possessing firearms. A no-contact order was also issued, and he awaits indictment on the murder charge.
Joss’s death prompted tributes from former colleagues in the entertainment industry. Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on both “Parks and Recreation” and “The Magnificent Seven,” posted a tribute on Instagram Stories, describing Joss as “always such a kind dude.” Nick Offerman, another “Parks and Recreation” cast member, told reporters that the cast had been texting about the tragedy and were heartbroken by the loss.
Beyond his voice work as John Redcorn on “King of the Hill,” Joss appeared in a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate on the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” where he portrayed the leader of the fictional Wamapoke Tribe. He also appeared in the 2016 Western remake “The Magnificent Seven,” playing Denali, an exiled Comanche warrior.
The case has drawn attention from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and prompted community meetings between police leadership and local organizations. The Human Rights Campaign acknowledged the heaviness and fear that comes with reports of anti-LGBTQ+ violence, while PRIDE San Antonio held discussions with police to address rumors and seek clarity about the investigation.
McManus acknowledged the anxiety felt by members of San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ community following the initial police statement dismissing hate crime allegations. He took responsibility for the premature nature of the department’s original response and emphasized that investigators continue pursuing all leads to understand the complete circumstances that led to Joss’s death.
