Police explore hate crime motive in shooting death of ‘King of the Hill' actor
Authorities in San Antonio are reevaluating whether the shooting death of voice actor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn on 'King of the Hill', was motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias.
Joss, 59, was fatally shot Sunday evening outside his former home, which had previously been destroyed in a fire.
Initial statements from police claimed there was no evidence linking Joss' sexual orientation to his murder. But San Antonio Police Chief William McManus walked back that assertion Thursday, calling the earlier statement 'premature.' He confirmed that investigators are now considering whether homophobia played a role.
Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said the couple had returned to their burned-out home to check the mail when a neighbor approached, shouted 'violent homophobic slurs,' and opened fire. Joss reportedly pushed his husband out of the line of fire before being fatally shot.
'King of the Hill' actor killed in shooting
'Jonathan saved my life,' de Gonzales wrote in a Facebook post.
The accused gunman, 56-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was arrested and charged with murder. He has since been released on a $200,000 bond.
San Antonio police confirmed that Ceja Alvarez is a neighbor and that officers have responded to approximately 70 calls related to disturbances in the area over the past two years. While some calls were placed by Joss, others came from neighbors. Officials also said the department's community crime prevention units had 'extensive engagement' with Joss.
Texas does not allow separate hate crime charges, but if a jury finds that homophobia was a motive, sentencing enhancements could apply under state law.
Joss's home was destroyed by fire in January. The blaze killed his three dogs, and arson investigators are still reviewing the cause. His husband said the fire followed years of threats from neighbors, some of which were 'openly homophobic.'
Tributes have poured in since the actor's death. 'King of the Hill' creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson said in a statement, 'His voice will be missed… and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family.'
In addition to 'King of the Hill,' Joss appeared in 'Parks and Recreation,' 'Ray Donovan,' 'Tulsa King,' and 'The Magnificent Seven.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Third arrest made in connection with deadly 2023 shooting in DC
WASHINGTON () — D.C. police announced that a third person was arrested following a months-long homicide investigation into a shooting that happened in Southeast. This arrest comes nearly two years after 39-year-old Dwayne Barbour, of Southeast, was shot and killed. On Dec. 20, 2023, just before 9 p.m., officers were called to the 2900 block of Knox Place, where Barbour had been shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he died on Dec. 31, 11 days after the shooting. Man attacked for protecting Pride decorations in Dupont Circle On Aug. 16, 17-year-old Rayon Davis Jr. and 17-year-old Quintin Reed were taken into custody in connection with Barbour's death. They were charged with first-degree murder while armed-felony murder. About 10 months later, officers said they obtained an arrest warrant for 20-year-old Avery Taylor in connection with the case. Taylor was charged with first-degree murder while armed-felony murder. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Camillus Police asking for help in hit-and-run investigation
SYRACUSE. N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Camillus Police Department is looking for your help. On Wednesday, June 4, around 7:45 a.m., a bicyclist was hit by a vehicle — in the area of Warners and Airport Roads — and injured. The driver fled the scene. Mayor Walsh to proclaim Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day Police believe the vehicle is a light colored or tan midsize SUV. If you witnessed the crash, saw anything suspicious in the area, or have any surveillance footage that may assist, you are urged to contact the Camillus Police Department at 315-487-0102 and reference case number DR25-324712, or submit tips anonymously via TIP411. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Driver caught speeding 114 miles per hour in Topeka
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Shawnee County deputy stopped a vehicle Thursday night that was allegedly speeding down a major local road. The Shawnee County Sheriff's Office posted on social media that one of its deputies spotted a vehicle traveling at an unsafe speed around 9:45 p.m. on June 5 in the 3700 block of Southwest Wanamaker Road. The deputy was using a radar device and monitoring the area for speeding drivers, as the area is prone to speeding. The sheriff's office reported that its deputy pulled a driver over who was traveling at 114 miles per hour in a Chrysler 300. The posted speed limit on this section of Southwest Wanamaker Road is 45 miles per hour. Kansas sheriff seizes $4 million in marijuana, cocaine during traffic stop The uniform fine schedule in Kansas, which is applied uniformly throughout the state, shows that exceeding the maximum speed limit comes with some big costs. Traveling 31 miles per hour above the posted speed limit can add nearly $200 onto a ticket with additional costs tacked on for every additional 30 miles per hour recorded. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
