Actor Jonathan Joss Killed in Tragic Shooting; Husband Believes It Was a Hate Crime
Actor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn on the long-running animated series King of the Hill and for his role as Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation, has died at age 59 following a shooting in San Antonio, Texas.
His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, described the incident as a homophobic hate crime. However, police have said that, at this time, there is no evidence to support that claim.
According to Gonzales, the couple had returned to the site of their former home, which was destroyed in a fire in January. He said they had faced threats from local residents for over two years, including repeated warnings that their home would be burned down.
During their visit, Gonzales said they discovered the remains of one of their dogs at the site—its skull and harness intentionally placed in view. Overcome with emotion, the couple began crying and shouting in grief.
“At that moment, a man approached us and began shouting violent homophobic slurs,” Gonzales wrote on Facebook. “He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.”
Joss, unarmed and unthreatening, pushed Gonzales out of the way, saving his life.
“I was with him when he passed,” Gonzales wrote. “I told him how much he was loved. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get.”
The suspect, Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The San Antonio Police Department stated: “Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation. However, should new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly.”
Joss had been seen publicly just days earlier, attending a King of the Hill panel at the ATX Television Festival in Austin. He expressed sadness on Facebook about not being invited to participate in the event.
“This show was a part of my life for many years,” he wrote in April. “That character, that voice, that story… they were my home, my pride, my connection to something bigger than myself. To not be invited felt like being shut out of a place I helped build.”
Tributes have poured in from fans and colleagues. Actor Nick Offerman, who starred alongside Joss in Parks and Recreation, told People: “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.”
King of the Hill creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson also released a statement: “Jonathan Joss brought King of the Hill’s John Redcorn to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival. His voice will be missed, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan’s friends and family.”
The new season of King of the Hill is set to premiere on Hulu on August 4.