Latest news with #KerndeGonzales
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
San Antonio police backpedal on initial claim that Jonathan Joss' murder was not an anti-LGBT hate crime
Less than a week after the San Antonio Police Department insisted there was 'no evidence whatsoever' of homophobia in the June 1 shooting death of former King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss, the city's top cop walked back that claim as 'way, way, way premature.' 'We shouldn't have done it,' SAPD Chief William McManus said at a Thursday press conference. 'It was way too soon, before we had any real information, and I will own that.' 'We understand that many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling anxious and concerned,' McManus added. 'A lot of it has to do with that premature statement that we released, and again, I own that shouldn't have done it. The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic and most, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community.' Last Sunday, as Joss, 59, and husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales drove to San Antonio from Austin, where they had recently been living, to check the mail at what remains of their home, which burned down in January. (Kern de Gonzalez said he is certain the blaze was arson. Authorities, on the other hand, have said the cause remains undetermined.) When they got there, the pair was shocked to find the charred skull of one of their three dogs, which had perished in the blaze, placed on the ground 'in clear view,' according to Kern de Gonzales. The two began crying and screaming, leading to the deadly confrontation with neighbor Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, he said. In announcing Joss' death on social media, Kern de Gonzales, 23, said there was no doubt the deadly attack was a hate crime. The 59-year-old Ceja, Kern de Gonzales wrote in a Facebook post, 'was someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.' Still, the SAPD issued a statement a day later saying investigators had found nothing 'to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' 'We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information,' the statement said. 'Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly.' However, Kern de Gonzales subsequently told The Independent that Ceja laughed and spewed homophobic slurs as Joss lay dying. 'Everything was really close range. It was in the head,' Kern de Gonzales said. 'I held his face together while I told him how much I loved him. He could still hear me, he looked up at me and he wasn't able to talk because of the extent [of his injuries], but I could tell he was trying to say, 'I love you.'' This, according to Kern de Gonzales, prompted Ceja to unleash a vile anti-LGBT tirade. 'While I'm holding him, he has the gun pointed over me, and he's laughing, saying, 'Oh, you love him? Joto,'' said Kern de Gonzales, who grew up in South Carolina. ''Joto' is Spanish for f****t. I never knew the word until I came to Texas, and then I heard it a lot.' Joss was pronounced dead at the scene. Ceja, according to an incident report obtained from the SAPD, quickly confessed, telling police, 'I shot him.' Some 48 hours following the shooting, Ceja, who now faces a first-degree murder charge, was released from jail on $200,000 bond. He will remain under house arrest, two doors down from where Joss was gunned down, pending trial. In a follow-up interview with The Independent after Ceja bailed out, Kern de Gonzales said he was not surprised by the turn of events and railed against the SAPD for not having better protected Joss. He said the couple, who married this past Valentine's Day, had lodged dozens of complaints about alleged harassment and threats from Ceja and other nearby residents, to little effect. Joss had also been the subject of complaints to police by neighbors, who called the cops on the actor more than 50 times in the past year, according to SAPD incident logs. However, while Joss may have at times annoyed people by 'ranting and raving' in public, Kern de Gonzales said he suffered at times from mental illness but insisted he was never a danger to himself or anyone else. 'I've been in mental health crisis and acted just as Jonathan did, even worse,' he said. 'The difference was, I was given medical attention and was treated as someone who needed help instead of being seen as a violent threat. Jonathan was never violent, he never went after anybody or threatened anybody's person.' Joss, who was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache descent, was best known for voicing the part of John Redcorn in the animated series King of the Hill. He also appeared in a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate on the NBC series Parks and Recreation. Ceja 'thought he would silence [Joss] and get rid of him, but all he did was make him more powerful,' Kern de Gonzales said. Now, he continued, Joss will instead 'be remembered as a martyr and a legend' among many in the LGBT and Native American communities. Ceja is due back in court on August 19. His court-appointed lawyer, Alfonso Otero, did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss' Husband Reveals His Heartbreaking Last Words to the Actor as He 'Held' His 'Face Together' After Shooting (Exclusive)
The husband of actor Jonathan Joss opens up to PEOPLE about the final words he told the Parks and Recreation actor after he was fatally shot on Sunday, June 1 Tristan Kern de Gonzales says that as Joss lay dying, 'I held my husband's face together as best I could' Kern de Gonzales claims the alleged gunman 'mocked' him and was 'laughing' at him as he said his final goodbye to JossJonathan Joss' husband is sharing heart-wrenching details about the King of the Hill actor's final moments. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Tristan Kern de Gonzales fights back tears as he recalls the final words he told Joss just before he died at the age of 59. 'Everything happened very quickly,' Kern de Gonzales, 32, says of the fatal shooting at their San Antonio, Texas, home on Sunday, June 1, that allegedly resulted from a dispute with one of their neighbors. 'Everything was very close range and due to the severity and the trauma of the various head wounds, I knew that there was no hope of saving Jonathan's physical form, and he was struggling so hard, trying to stay alive,' he notes. 'It was just really, really close range,' Kern de Gonzales remembers. 'I held my husband's face together as best I could, and I told him how much I loved him, and that none of this was his fault. I told him he needed to cross over easy. He didn't need to keep fighting.' Kern de Gonzales continues, 'I told him that no matter what, and in some way, shape, or form, we'll always be together, and he'll always be my husband.' He claims that while his husband lay dying, 'the [alleged] gunman was still in [his] car' and 'still had the gun pointed over me.' 'He was laughing,' Kern de Gonzales alleges. 'He mocked me for telling my husband that I loved him and used the same homophobic slurs' that the gunman allegedly used before shooting Joss. 'I was just really looking down at my husband, focused on him, making sure that he had completely crossed over,' Kern de Gonzales says. San Antonio Police arrested one of Joss' neighbors, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, shortly after the actor was fatally shot and charged him with first-degree murder. Police have said Alvarez, 56, admitted to shooting and killing the Parks and Recreation actor. He was released on Monday, June 2, on a $200,000 bond. The shooting has left Kern de Gonzales in a state of 'shock.' 'The flashbacks are very, very intense, and they affect my whole body,' he tells PEOPLE. Kern de Gonzales, who previously wrote on Facebook that Joss pushed him out of the way and saved his life, says his late husband's final act of self-sacrifice has given him strength as he grieves. 'I know that I have to keep going and not let go of this because he saved my life, and I can't just let that go,' he explains. 'I have to use the gift that he gave me wisely.' Kern de Gonzales adds of Joss, who he met in 2023 and married on Valentine's Day 2025: 'He will always be my husband and the love of my life. He really gave me a lifetime's worth of love in the short time that we got together.' Kern de Gonzales has maintained that Joss was the victim of a hate crime and that they suffered repeated harassment and homophobic abuse from their neighbors prior to his husband's murder. 'It does hurt whenever people try to say that it wasn't a hate crime,' he says. The day after Joss died, the San Antonio Police Department said their investigation had 'found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation." However, at a Thursday press conference, SAPD police chief William McManus walked back that statement. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'That was way, way, way, premature,' McManus said. 'We shouldn't have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information. And I will own that.' He added, 'I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the tragic loss of Mr. Joss, which has been heavily felt." McManus continued, "Our homicide detectives are continuing to pursue every lead in this case to ensure that we understand the full picture of what led up to the senseless murder of Mr. Joss." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss' Husband Says His Murder Is Still a Hate Crime Despite Police Statement: 'I Won't Stop Fighting'
Tristan Kern de Gonzales is calling on social media users to keep Jonathan Joss' memory alive Kern de Gonzales claims his husband's death is the result of a hate crime San Antonio police said their investigation found "no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation"Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the husband of the late Jonathan Joss, 59, is using social media to call for justice after the actor was killed in what he claims is a hate crime. 'Jonathan Joss is my husband. I don't say 'was' because he will always be my husband. He will always be the love of my life,' Kern de Gonzalez said in a Wednesday, June 4 TikTok video posted on the account Justice for Joss. He explained that he was 'not very familiar with TikTok' or 'the spotlight,' but started the profile to get enough followers to go live and spread the word about Joss being fatally shot by a neighbor on June 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Kern de Gonzales said he'd tried to use a friend's TikTok account to go live to discuss the shooting, but claimed the platform removed the feature, leading him to start his own account to try again. 'I'm gonna keep talking about, not only what happened on the day of my husband's death, but also, we're gonna share just everything about Jonathan and everything that he stood for,' he said, adding, 'We're gonna laugh together. We're gonna cry together. We're gonna be angry together.' "We won't stop talking about this,' Kern de Gonzales continued. 'I'm not going to let the SAPD or anyone else silence the fact that this was a hate crime, and I just won't be silenced.' He concluded, 'I may not be as loud as my husband, but I carry his strength with me. I won't stop fighting for what I know is right and for my love." Kern de Gonzales shared a post on Joss' Facebook page on June 2, claiming the incident was a hate crime. 'My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,' his statement began. 'That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.' However, the San Antonio Police Department said their investigation "has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation." The SAPD did not respond to PEOPLE's previous requests for comment. However, on Wednesday, they issued an update to their Facebook account. 'We join with the family, friends, and fans mourning the murder of Johnathan Joss—a loss felt deeply not just in San Antonio, but around the world by those who knew him through his work and spirit. Although we arrested a suspect, our homicide detectives continue to follow every lead to fully understand what led to this senseless act,' the statement said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'We invite you to join us and Pride San Antonio... at an upcoming community meeting where we'll share updates and listen to your concerns,' police added. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, was charged with first-degree murder after police alleged he admitted to shooting and killing the Parks and Recreation actor. He was released from police custody after posting $200,000 bond. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss' Husband Says His Murder Is Still a Hate Crime Despite Police Statement: 'I Won't Stop Fighting'
Tristan Kern de Gonzales is calling on social media users to keep Jonathan Joss' memory alive Kern de Gonzales claims his husband's death is the result of a hate crime San Antonio police said their investigation found "no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation"Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the husband of the late Jonathan Joss, 59, is using social media to call for justice after the actor was killed in what he claims is a hate crime. 'Jonathan Joss is my husband. I don't say 'was' because he will always be my husband. He will always be the love of my life,' Kern de Gonzalez said in a Wednesday, June 4 TikTok video posted on the account Justice for Joss. He explained that he was 'not very familiar with TikTok' or 'the spotlight,' but started the profile to get enough followers to go live and spread the word about Joss being fatally shot by a neighbor on June 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Kern de Gonzales said he'd tried to use a friend's TikTok account to go live to discuss the shooting, but claimed the platform removed the feature, leading him to start his own account to try again. 'I'm gonna keep talking about, not only what happened on the day of my husband's death, but also, we're gonna share just everything about Jonathan and everything that he stood for,' he said, adding, 'We're gonna laugh together. We're gonna cry together. We're gonna be angry together.' "We won't stop talking about this,' Kern de Gonzales continued. 'I'm not going to let the SAPD or anyone else silence the fact that this was a hate crime, and I just won't be silenced.' He concluded, 'I may not be as loud as my husband, but I carry his strength with me. I won't stop fighting for what I know is right and for my love." Kern de Gonzales shared a post on Joss' Facebook page on June 2, claiming the incident was a hate crime. 'My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,' his statement began. 'That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.' However, the San Antonio Police Department said their investigation "has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation." The SAPD did not respond to PEOPLE's previous requests for comment. However, on Wednesday, they issued an update to their Facebook account. 'We join with the family, friends, and fans mourning the murder of Johnathan Joss—a loss felt deeply not just in San Antonio, but around the world by those who knew him through his work and spirit. Although we arrested a suspect, our homicide detectives continue to follow every lead to fully understand what led to this senseless act,' the statement said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'We invite you to join us and Pride San Antonio... at an upcoming community meeting where we'll share updates and listen to your concerns,' police added. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, was charged with first-degree murder after police alleged he admitted to shooting and killing the Parks and Recreation actor. He was released from police custody after posting $200,000 bond. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss' Husband Says His Murder Is Still a Hate Crime Despite Police Statement: 'I Won't Stop Fighting'
Tristan Kern de Gonzales is calling on social media users to keep Jonathan Joss' memory alive Kern de Gonzales claims his husband's death is the result of a hate crime San Antonio police said their investigation found "no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation"Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the husband of the late Jonathan Joss, 59, is using social media to call for justice after the actor was killed in what he claims is a hate crime. 'Jonathan Joss is my husband. I don't say 'was' because he will always be my husband. He will always be the love of my life,' Kern de Gonzalez said in a Wednesday, June 4 TikTok video posted on the account Justice for Joss. He explained that he was 'not very familiar with TikTok' or 'the spotlight,' but started the profile to get enough followers to go live and spread the word about Joss being fatally shot by a neighbor on June 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Kern de Gonzales said he'd tried to use a friend's TikTok account to go live to discuss the shooting, but claimed the platform removed the feature, leading him to start his own account to try again. 'I'm gonna keep talking about, not only what happened on the day of my husband's death, but also, we're gonna share just everything about Jonathan and everything that he stood for,' he said, adding, 'We're gonna laugh together. We're gonna cry together. We're gonna be angry together.' "We won't stop talking about this,' Kern de Gonzales continued. 'I'm not going to let the SAPD or anyone else silence the fact that this was a hate crime, and I just won't be silenced.' He concluded, 'I may not be as loud as my husband, but I carry his strength with me. I won't stop fighting for what I know is right and for my love." Kern de Gonzales shared a post on Joss' Facebook page on June 2, claiming the incident was a hate crime. 'My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,' his statement began. 'That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.' However, the San Antonio Police Department said their investigation "has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation." The SAPD did not respond to PEOPLE's previous requests for comment. However, on Wednesday, they issued an update to their Facebook account. 'We join with the family, friends, and fans mourning the murder of Johnathan Joss—a loss felt deeply not just in San Antonio, but around the world by those who knew him through his work and spirit. Although we arrested a suspect, our homicide detectives continue to follow every lead to fully understand what led to this senseless act,' the statement said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'We invite you to join us and Pride San Antonio... at an upcoming community meeting where we'll share updates and listen to your concerns,' police added. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, was charged with first-degree murder after police alleged he admitted to shooting and killing the Parks and Recreation actor. He was released from police custody after posting $200,000 bond. Read the original article on People
