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A memorial grows for Jonathon Joss, and quiet descends on a complicated street

Yahoo

2 hours ago

Entertainment
Yahoo

A memorial grows for Jonathon Joss, and quiet descends on a complicated street

A family who moved to a south-side San Antonio neighborhood roughly six years ago said that they were warned right away about an eccentric man who lived across the street. They were told, they said, that Jonathan Joss would play drums on his roof at all hours of the night and would yell obscenities and racial slurs at people outside. They said that, when confronted, Joss would often say that he was rehearsing for a role. He really was an actor, though. He played the role of John Redcorn in the animated show 'King of the Hill' for more than a dozen seasons, including in the show's upcoming revival. Another neighbor, Daniela Ruano, 19, said she lived next door to Joss her entire life. He would yell racist slurs at her family, she said, honk his horn in the middle of the night and threaten to hurt them. The behavior, she said, had accelerated. 'I'd say like the last two years have been the worst with him. He started breaking down my fence from the back,' she said. 'We would call the police on him a lot.' Two years ago, she said, Joss threatened another neighbor's brother with a crossbow. Police reports confirm that officers responded to the incident, but did not find a crossbow on Joss when they arrived at the scene. Earlier this year, Joss' family home was destroyed in a fire. But he still came by, neighbors said. In a video Ruano took of the actor on June 1, he is seen walking around the neighborhood and yelling; he is carrying a makeshift pitchfork. At one point, he said he is 'rehearsing a scene.' That day she took the video, Joss, his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales and another friend were there to pick up mail. The group had just returned from Austin, de Gonzales said, where Joss had participated in a fan meet-and-greet event. Joss, 59, arrived in the usual manner that his neighbors said that they had grown unhappily accustomed to, makeshift pitchfork included. Then, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez – the neighbor whose brother said he had been threatened by Joss with the crossbow two years ago – drove up behind Joss who was parked in his driveway. He got out, the two exchanged words, witnesses said, and seconds later, Joss was dead. 'I shot him,' Ceja told police, according to an incident report. Ceja, 56, was arrested and charged with murder. His bond was set at $200,000, which he posted on Monday. He was released from jail with GPS monitoring on Wednesday afternoon and is due to appear in court on August 19, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office public information officer. When most people think of an actor's life, they tend to imagine gleaming houses high in the Hollywood Hills. For years, Joss lived in the modest house his father built in the 1950s. This week, a makeshift memorial for Joss began growing at the property's fence. A man pulled up in a truck with a royal blue memorial cross adorned with ribbons and flowers. He tied the cross to the fence above the growing memorial. The man, Adrian Reyes, told CNN he had known Joss since high school; they were both in the class of 1984 at Dillard McCollum High School, which recently held its 40th year reunion. 'We're very, very close with him in that class. We track him everywhere,' said Reyes. 'We helped him financially. We helped him get to his events when he didn't have transportation.' 'It's a shame that people are learning about him now that he's gone rather than when he was alive and how talented he was and what a talent we lost,' Reyes said. 'He was a different kind of guy, but he was the life of the party.' Neighbors said there were years, maybe even decades, of disputes, particularly between Joss and Ceja. San Antonio Police logs show numerous calls to both addresses over the past year. 'Me and Jonathan had all these fun little side projects where we were coming up with these little scripts, most of them just for fun to make ourselves laugh. And we would be acting them out in the yard and I guess to the outside world maybe it looked a little crazy,' de Gonzales told viewers on Instagram Live. He did say that although they would sometimes walk around the neighborhood with things like a stick or pitchfork, they never 'threatened' or 'pointed any weapons at anybody.' Police were called to Joss' residence nearly 50 times since January 2024. In some instances, officers were dispatched multiple times in a single day. Neighbors said Joss' behavior turned more erratic and harassing as the years went on. Some said they saw him throw trash and wine bottles onto a nearby property under construction and damage that neighbor's mailbox. 'He went over there and yanked the mailbox off the top, and it was in a brick casing. So he yanked off the door and beat it up where our neighbor had to go replace it,' said one neighbor, who spoke to CNN but asked that their name not be used due to the attention the killing was bringing to their street. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life,' de Gonzales said after the shooting, about their trip back to the burned-down home site. De Gonzalez said that the person who killed Joss yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire. 'He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,' de Gonzales said. (CNN has attempted multiple times to contact Ceja and also reached out to his lawyer.) The San Antonio Police Department issued a statement on Monday rebutting this. '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,' the department posted online. But, on Wednesday, as the police department was sharing a Pride Month community forum event, they also released a new statement saying they were continuing the investigation. 'Although we arrested a suspect, our homicide detectives continue to follow every lead to fully understand what led to this senseless act.' On Thursday, San Antonio police expressed more regret. 'We issued a statement the day after Jonathan Joss's murder that was way, way, way premature,' SAPD Chief William McManus told CNN affiliate KENS on Thursday. 'We shouldn't have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information and I will own that.' He echoed similar sentiments at a forum hosted by San Antonio Pride and the SAPD on Thursday evening, explaining that a judge can attach a hate crime to charges later on. He said they will gather all of the facts leading up to Jonathan Joss' death and will present the case to the District Attorney's office to make that call. He added that police are also investigating the January fire at Joss' home. Joss had told everyone that he was going through a lot. Online, he said he was fighting an uphill battle with financial difficulties. In November, Joss spoke about the difficult living conditions he and his then-fiancé were facing. He said that their home lacked basic utilities such as gas and electricity and described using a fire pit to heat coffee. Despite the challenges, he expressed hope about 'getting through some rough times.' There was one bright spot: his marriage to de Gonzales. Still, Joss also talked about using a stove to heat up water for a hot shower. On Instagram, he showed the poor condition of his house, revealing several holes in the walls and ceiling. In January, Joss experienced two house fires. The second destroyed the house and his car and killed his three dogs, according to social media posts from Joss and his partner. 'Everything I owned… gone. My memories, my keepsakes, my family, my comfort in this world lost in the flames,' he wrote on Facebook. In the months that followed, Joss frequently took to social media to ask fans for financial support. He regularly shared a GoFundMe link started by a fan, which has now raised over $20,000. He sold autographed photos, personalized video messages, t-shirts and '$1 wisdom sayings.' He also posted about marrying his partner on Valentine's Day. In one post with de Gonzales, Joss wrote: 'We shall endeavor to persevere together.' He frequently tried to secure transportation and financial support on Facebook to be able to make celebrity appearances at conventions. Just two days before he was killed, Joss showed up at a 'King of the Hill' Revival Sneak Peek event at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas – although he had already written on Facebook that he was not invited to attend. Attendee Brandon Robinson said Joss walked up to the Q&A mic and started 'ranting.' Robinson originally thought Joss' speech was planned but said he soon realized it wasn't. After making some references to his character in 'King of the Hill,' Joss said: 'My house burned down three months ago because I'm gay.' The panelists then announced Joss as the voice of the show's character John Redcorn, prompting applause from the audience. Joss spoke about feeling ignored at the event in one of his final interviews, which took place on 'Bwaaa! A King of the Hill podcast.' But he also said he'd loved his life as an actor. 'I've just been really lucky to have really decent parts. I mean, I never had a – I've never done a bad thing when it comes to acting,' Joss said. Another family showed up this week to remember Joss at the site of the shooting. Paul Gonzalez and Tiffany Zurita said that they lived nearby, but never knew Joss lived in the area. 'We grew up watching the cartoon, you know, me and my wife when we were kids – so just shocked by it,' Gonzalez said of the killing. They brought a pinwheel to place at the memorial, explaining that it helped their own family when experiencing loss. It was something 'to kind of bring that little life back in,' Zurita said. 'You know, the wind's blowing, you see it blowing in the wind, and it just, you know, kind of reminds you that that person's still here,' she said. 'It's a symbol of peace and serene surroundings.' They both said prayers for everyone involved in the tragic incident – and for the neighbors as well. 'I hope they all find peace in time,' said Gonzalez. CNN's Lisa Respers France, Dianne Gallagher, Devon Sayers, Andy Buck, Jeremy Grisham, and Leah Thomeer contributed to this report.

Police Address Lack of Hate Crime Charge in Voice Actor Killing

Newsweek

16 hours ago

Entertainment
Newsweek

Police Address Lack of Hate Crime Charge in Voice Actor Killing

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Law enforcement in Texas explained why the man accused of shooting King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss has not been charged with a hate crime. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a press conference on Thursday that hate crimes are not separate charges in the state but are instead addressed through sentencing enhancements. "We don't charge with hate crimes," McManus said. "We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office, and then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing." Joss, 59, was shot multiple times on Sunday at the site of his former home. Officials identified the suspected shooter as 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, who lived at a neighboring property. Ceja has been charged with first-degree felony murder. In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Bexar County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images Why It Matters In a Facebook post on Joss' account, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, Joss' husband, said they were approached by a man "yelling violent homophobic slurs." Gonzales said the man then raised a gun and opened fire. The incident, which happened on the first day of Pride Month, has caused concern among LGBTQ+ members of the community. "Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation," the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) said in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday. "SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly." McManus said the statement was "way, way, way premature." "It was way too soon, before we had any real information and I will own that," McManus said. What To Know McManus said homicide detectives are continuing to pursue leads to determine what led to the "senseless murder" of Joss. Gonzales said their former home was burned down in January "after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire." He said he notified law enforcement but "nothing was done." McManus said there were more than 70 calls to Joss' residence over the past two years involving various neighborhood disturbances. He said some of these incidents were reported by Joss. "Our safe unit, our mental health units, had extensive engagements with Mr. Joss, making repeated efforts to mediate conflicts and connect him with services that he may have needed," McManus said. What People Are Saying San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, during a press conference on Thursday: "To our LGBTQ+ community as we observe Pride Month, please know that your safety and trust matter deeply to us." Tristan Kern de Gonzales, referring to husband Jonathan Joss, in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday: "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other." What Happens Next McManus said officials are "committed to delivering a thorough and complete investigation," which will be filed with the district attorney's office for prosecution. He said they are also working with the San Antonio Fire Department arson investigators to understand how the fire at Joss' former home is connected. "At this time, the investigation remains active, and we need to be cautious about not releasing too much information that could affect, negatively affect, the upcoming legal process," McManus said. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@

Who is Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja? Neighbor Accused of Killing Jonathan Joss

Newsweek

3 days ago

Newsweek

Who is Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja? Neighbor Accused of Killing Jonathan Joss

King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss fatally shot

1News

3 days ago

Entertainment
1News

King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss fatally shot

Jonathan Joss, a voice actor best known for his work on the animated television series King of the Hill, was fatally shot near his Texas home, authorities said. Police were dispatched to a home in south San Antonio about 7pm Sunday (local time) on a shooting in progress call. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the wounded 59-year-old near the street. "The officers attempted life saving measures until EMS arrived. EMS pronounced the victim deceased," San Antonio police said in a statement. Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, confirmed the actor's death to The Associated Press in a text. The two were married earlier this year on Valentine's Day. In an email, San Antonio police did not immediately provide any information on what prompted the shooting. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement, de Gonzales said he and Joss had previously faced harassment, much of it "openly homophobic". Joss' husband said the person who killed the actor yelled "violent homophobic slurs" before opening fire. "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other," de Gonzales said. Before the shooting, de Gonzales and Joss were checking mail at Joss' home, which had been heavily damaged during a January fire that claimed the lives of their three dogs. A man approached the two and threatened them with a gun, de Gonzales said. "Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life," de Gonzales said in a statement. In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Source: Getty) After the shooting, authorities arrested 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja and charged him with murder in Joss' death. Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on behalf of Ceja, who was being held in the Bexar County Adult Detention Centre. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement, San Antonio police said its investigation "has found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation". "We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly," police said. Joss, who grew up in San Antonio, was best known as the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular King of the Hill animated series that ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show is set to start in August. Joss also had a recurring role on the television show Parks and Recreation, playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series Tulsa King in 2022. A GoFundMe page had been set up in January for Joss after the house fire. According to the page, Joss had lost all of his belongings in the fire, including his vehicle. Before he was fatally shot, Joss had been in Austin, located about 130km northeast of San Antonio, for events related to a sneak peak of the King of the Hill revival. On Saturday, Joss had posted a video on Instagram in which he said he was signing autographs at a comic bookstore in Austin. ADVERTISEMENT "The fans get to revisit King of the Hill again, which I think is an amazing thing because it's a great show," Joss said in the video, adding he had already done voice work on four episodes of the revival. Joss' husband said Joss was grateful for his fans. "To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family," de Gonzales said.

Jonathan Joss, ‘King of the Hill' actor, killed in Texas shooting

Global News

4 days ago

Entertainment
Global News

Jonathan Joss, ‘King of the Hill' actor, killed in Texas shooting

Actor Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, has died in a shooting, according to Texas police. San Antonio police confirmed to Variety that Joss, 59, died on Saturday. According to a police report viewed by The Hollywood Reporter, the cause of death was from 'injuries sustained after multiple gun shots.' Police were reportedly dispatched to a scene while a shooting was in progress, and Joss was discovered near the road, having been shot multiple times. An attempt to revive him was unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the shooter fled the area in a vehicle, but was detained by officers only a block away. Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, was arrested and has been booked for murder. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. He was booked on suspicion of murder of Jonathan Joss, a voice actor on the television show 'King of the Hill.' Bexar County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images TMZ, which broke the news, reported that Joss was shot by a neighbour after a heated argument. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a statement shared to Facebook, Joss's husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales wrote that he was 'murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other'. He added: 'Jonathan is my husband. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get … I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved.' An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said. Joss starred on King of the Hill in seasons 2 through 13. He also played Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation and had roles in Tulsa King and the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. Story continues below advertisement Better than an Alamo and almost as good as propane. An all new season of #KingOfTheHill drops Aug 4th on Hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus. — kingofthehill (@kingofthehill) May 30, 2025 According to Variety, Joss had already recorded lines for the upcoming King of the Hill revival, set to air this August, and his character can be seen in promo materials for the reboot.