Latest news with #PrideSanAntonio
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss shooting: Police, Pride San Antonio hold community forum
The Brief Community forum held in San Antonio following murder of actor Jonathan Joss Joss was shot, killed outside his home in San Antonio on Sunday night San Antonio police on Thursday walked back a statement refuting "online claims" of Joss's murder being related to his sexual orientation SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Pride San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Department held a community forum Thursday evening following the murder of actor Jonathan Joss. Joss, known for his roles as John Redcorn in "King of the Hill" and Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation," was shot and killed outside his home in San Antonio on Sunday, June 1. What they're saying The forum comes after the man suspected of killing Joss was released on bond the day after the shooting and after San Antonio police walked back a statement they posted on social media refuting "online claims" of Joss's murder being related to his sexual orientation. San Antonio police chief William McManus said during the forum that his department is working with the San Antonio Fire Department's arson investigators to look into what happened to Joss's home earlier this year and previous calls concerning Joss and his neighbors. The majority of the forum was McManus speaking with audience members, hearing their stories and concerns, including a woman speaking about her brother's murder. Watch the full forum below: Members of the LGBTQ+ community believe the actor was the victim of a hate crime. "We issued a statement, I believe it was the day after, the day after Jonathan Joss's murder, that was way, way, way premature. Shouldn't have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information," San Antonio Police Chief William Mcmanus. A wide range of emotions were felt across the room. "We just feel that there are a lot of misinterpretations that are happening. Social media can be very volatile, and we reached out to the SAPD. We feel that it is important to be able to bridge the gap and just get to a truth that everybody can understand," says Pride San Antonio secretary James Poindexter. San Antonio police accuse the voice actor's neighbor, 56-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, of being the gunman in the shooting. In a post to social media, Joss' husband says the suspect yelled homophobic slurs prior to the deadly shooting. The police department says this led to criticism from the public for failing to charge the suspect with a hate crime. "Hate crime is not a crime in itself, it is attached to another crime: murder, assault or criminal mischief. The way that works is the DA's office will add that to the indictment," says San Antonio Police Chief William Mcmanus. "We are also working with the San Antonio Fire Department. Arson investigators went back to look at the fire to Mr. Joss' house. We are investigating that as well. That information can also be included in the filing when we take it to the DA's office," he added. During the forum, Pride San Antonio opened the floor for those that wanted to voice their concerns to the police department. "During pride month, it is a big time right now we need to get everybody together on the same page so that we can talk to each other inside each other or around each other," says Pointdexter. SAPD says if there is any new evidence, the suspect will be charged accordingly. What we know Bexar County Court records show that Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, posted $200,000 bond on Monday night, the day after the deadly shooting. Ceja Alvarez was ordered to full house arrest and his pre-trial supervision began on Tuesday afternoon, records show. Under the conditions of his bond, Ceja Alvarez is subject to random drug testing, is not allowed to possess any firearms or make contact with Joss' family. A pre-trial hearing is set for August 19. What we know Joss, 59, was shot and killed in south San Antonio on Sunday night. Police arrested Ceja Alvarez in connection with the crime. He is charged with murder. TMZ reported Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and had been in disputes in the past. On Monday, Joss' husband posted online that the suspect yelled "violent homophobic slurs" prior to the shooting. Joss and de Gonzales had been married since February, according to social media posts. What they're saying The husband of slain "King of the Hill" voice actor Jonathan Joss spoke out again on social media on Tuesday night. Tristan Kern de Gonzales spoke at length about his relationship with Joss and Joss's love of his fans and work, and gave his account of Joss's last moments. His comments come after San Antonio police made a statement on social media, saying its investigation has so far found "no evidence" that Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation. READ MORE: Jonathan Joss shooting: Co-stars remember 'King of the Hill', 'Parks and Rec' actor De Gonzales detailed his husband's last moments, including holding him as he died and telling him that he loved him. De Gonzales also said that Joss had been harassed not just for his sexual orientation, but also for his Native American heritage. He said the couple experienced harassment from neighbors, including threats to burn down their house and homophobic slurs. He also criticized San Antonio police at points during the live. Dig deeper Claims by Joss' husband were refuted by the San Antonio Police Department in a statement on social media Monday night. "Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the [sic] Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation. SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information," wrote the department in a post. The department says if any new evidence comes out, the suspect will be charged accordingly. However, in a press conference on Thursday morning, Chief McManus called that statement "way premature." "We issued a statement the day after Jonathan Joss's murder that was way, way, way premature," McManus said. "Shouldn't've done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information, and I will own that and simply say again that we shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature be issued." McManus went on to address calls for this to be investigated and charged as a hate crime, saying that in Texas, hate crimes are not separate charges, but rather addressed as penalty enhancements. The backstory In addition to playing John Redcorn for multiple seasons on "King of the Hill", Joss also made appearances in several other shows. He played Chief Ken Hotate in "Parks and Recreation" and had other small roles in "Ray Donovan," "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "Tulsa King." Joss also appeared in the films "True Grit," "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Forever Purge." The Source Information in this report comes from Bexar County court records, Jonathan Joss's husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the San Antonio Police Department and previous reporting.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shocking Police Update About Jonathan Joss' Killing Highlights LGBTQ+ Community's Fears
A new detail about ' murder has come to light as authorities investigating the case released a statement, walking back their initial claims. The beloved "King of the Hill" actor was gunned down on June 1 during a fiery altercation with a neighbor close to his San Antonio, Texas, home. Circumstances around the shooting suggested a hate crime, especially with alleged evidence from Joss' husband. However, the San Antonio police denied such claims until now. In a June 5 press conference, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus gave an update on the case, admitting that his department had hastily declared Joss's shooting not a hate crime. Initially, the police concluded that their "investigation has found no evidence whatsoever" that the actor's sexuality played a role in his murder. However, following immense backlash from the public, Chief McManus confessed the statement was "way, way, way premature." Taking responsibility, he added, "Shouldn't have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information, and I will own that and simply say, again, that we shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued." The police chief further noted that the "premature statement" caused the LGBTQ+ community to feel "anxious," and for that, he once again apologizes. Concluding his speech, McManus paid tribute to the late star, saying, "The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic and most, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community." Chief McManus' message at the press conference is a far cry from the initial statement the SAPD put out about Joss' killing. Just two days after he was shot, authorities debunked online claims of a homophobic attack, saying they "thoroughly reviewed all available information." According to them, "SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously." Now, with the turnaround, the police chief explained why they have yet to charge the suspected killer with a hate crime. He noted that hate crimes cannot be charged separately in Texas. Also, the District Attorney's office is responsible for determining the correct charge. However, Chief McManus assured that his team of detectives is following every lead to get to the truth of Joss' "senseless" killing. Following the press conference, the SAPD announced a community forum, hosted in collaboration with Pride San Antonio, a nonprofit organization specializing in Pride celebrations. In a poster shared on the department's official X page, they urged the LGBTQ+ community in San Antonio to join them in a helpful conversation as they discuss their fears. They also promised to share updates about Joss's case during the June 5 meeting. "We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you, today and always," the department promised. Unfortunately, the walk-back by the police has further enraged members of the LGBTQ+ community. Many took to online platforms to rant about how cases involving hate crimes are often taken with levity. "SAPD continuously fails the LGBTQ community, particularly when they're PoC," one user wrote. "The mishandling of this case is atrocious. SAPD is unprofessional. Something larger needs to be done within this department," another comment read. A third fan suggested the police chief resign over the poor handling of the case. "Chief McManus HAS to go! How dare he allow this big of a mistake to happen," the critic penned. Some fans insinuated that the Pride event was a ploy to victimize members of the LGBTQ+ community. The new update on Jonathan Joss' murder comes after his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged that the shooting was inspired by homophobia. In a lengthy Facebook post, Gonzales recalled details of his husband's death, alleging that their San Antonio neighbors harassed and threatened them for two years. He claimed their burned property was due to those threats. Unfortunately, the bullying continued to that fateful day when they saw the skull of one of their dogs placed in plain view. Gonzales recounted that he and Joss cried in distress, which drew the attention of their neighbor, who was offended. Gonzales said the neighbor began "yelling violent homophobic slurs," after which he reached for his rifle and shot at Joss. The suspect has been identified as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja. He has since been released on a $200,000 bail while awaiting trial.
