Latest news with #SigfredoCejaAlvarez
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Suspect in murder of King of the Hill actor makes shock claim about deadly encounter
The man accused of murdering King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss in south San Antonio earlier this month claims he's innocent of the crimes he's charged with, his lawyer says. Murder suspect Sigfredo 'Freddy' Ceja Alvarez is 'being accused of something that he's completely innocent of,' his defense lawyer Nico LaHood told KSAT 12 Wednesday in his first public comments on the case. LaHood said that his client was 'not doing great' but 'has the support of his neighbors' who will attest to what was described as mercurial behavior on the part of the actor. Said the attorney: 'And other people know the real truth about the circumstances and the often dangerous behavior, unfortunately, of the deceased.' Joss' husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales claimed the attack was a homophobia-fueled hate crime from Alvarez, something the murder suspect's lawyer strenuously denies. 'This accusation of a hate crime is completely antithetical to his character,' LaHood said. 'This has nothing to do with sexual orientation. This has to do with a very long time of torment in that neighborhood.' In a statement posted on Joss' Facebook page, Tristan Kern de Gonzales provided background details on the incident, and others that had preceded it. 'My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,' Kern de Gonzales wrote. '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. De Gonzales said he and Joss 'reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done' despite ongoing harassment from 'openly homophobic' residents in the area 'who made it clear they did not accept our relationship.' Police in Texas told the AP earlier this month that they found Joss injured near the street when they arrived to perform life-saving measures on Sunday evening around 7:00 PM. In a statement, authorities with the San Antonio Police Department said that 'the officers attempted life saving measures until EMS arrived' and 'pronounced the victim deceased.' Speaking to the AP, de Gonzales said he and the voice actor had wed this past February on Valentine's Day; and that his husband had been 'murdered' in the attack Sunday night. In the social media statement, de Gonzales said that he and his husband had moved from the home, and when they returned to get their mail, they 'discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view.' He added: 'This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw. 'While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.' In the comprehensive post, de Gonzales said that he and his spouse had been grieving the loss of their beloved pet when the violence was inflicted upon them. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons,' de Gonzales wrote. 'We were not threatening anyone. He continued: 'We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.' In the post, de Gonzales said that his husband 'was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.' He added: 'I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved. To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. 'My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together.' In the sad post, de Gonzales said Joss gave him 'more love in our time together than most people ever get' in their entire lives. 'We were newlyweds,' de Gonzales said. 'We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future.' In a follow-up post, de Gonzales addressed his late spouse's followers on plans for a celebration of life ceremony. 'While I deeply appreciate the support from everyone I wanted to let you know that I have had a couple offers regarding covering expenses for a celebration of life,' de Gonzales wrote. 'I have absolutely no plans yet on that but I will try to keep everyone updated. There's not a need to donate to the gofundme. In a follow-up post, de Gonzales addressed his late spouse's followers on plans for a celebration of life ceremony 'But I want everyone to remember the joy and love Jonathan has brought and will continue to bring forever. I have my essentials covered and our family in San Antonio is taking care of me until I get back to South Carolina.' To conclude, de Gonzales said that 'instead of donating, Jonathan and I would both rather you spread the word about the consistent injustice done to him, to us, and to our dogs. He ended the second post in saying, 'We had so many beautiful plans for the future.' Joss was also remembered by his Parks And Recreation costar Nick Offerman. Joss has provided vocals of the character John Redcorn on the popular animated series King of the Hill between the show's second and 13 seasons, appearing on 34 total episodes of the animated series between 1997–2009, according to iMDb. The character was initially voiced by actor Victor Aaron, who died in a car accident in September of 1996.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cops Contradict Claim Made by Husband of Murdered TV Star
Cops investigating the murder of Jonathan Joss have told the Daily Beast that the King of the Hill star did not make a single report of being threatened before his death, contradicting his husband's claims that they made 'multiple' complaints which went ignored. Joss, 59, was gunned down Sunday during a confrontation with his neighbor, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, with whom the voice actor had allegedly been feuding. In the aftermath, Joss's grieving husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales used the star's Facebook page to claim the pair had been 'harassed regularly by individuals [who were] openly homophobic,' suggesting Joss' sexual orientation played a role in his murder. A police source told the Daily Beast that the force had found no evidence that prejudice had played a part in the killing, and that homophobia had not featured in its report sent to the District Attorney. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said: 'We have found no evidence of homophobia as a motive during our investigation of this tragic incident. 'If that changes in the course of the investigation, our detectives will, of course, inform the District Attorney.' The San Antonio Police Department cast doubt on such claims in a June 2 statement posted to X, writing, '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, in a Thursday press conference update, the police department appeared to wildly change its tune as Chief of Police William P. McManus apologized for releasing a statement on Joss' case before a full investigation. McManus called the statement 'way, way, way premature.' 'It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to have been issued' he added. 'I will own that.' Addressing calls for Joss' murder to be treated as a hate crime, McManus explained during the brief update, which lasted around 7 minutes, that 'hate crimes' are not treated as separate charges in Texas. 'Instead they are addressed through sentencing enhancements,' McManus said. 'A hate crime designation can be attached to a charge and elevated.' In his Facebook post, Kern de Gonzales alleged that Joss' shooter had been 'yelling violent homophobic slurs at us' before he shot Joss—who voiced John Redcorn in the popular and long-running animated show King of the Hill—in what he later described as a 'hate crime.' He added, 'We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done,' saying the 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.' The Daily Beast has attempted to reach Mr Kern de Gonzales for comment. A spokesperson for San Antonio Police Department said in a statement issued to the Daily Beast Wednesday: 'The San Antonio Police Department has responded to Mr. Joss's residence over 70 times in the last two years for various incidents. None of these incidents involved reports of threats of any kind.' Alvarez—who police said immediately admitted to shooting Joss—has been charged with murder and released under house arrest on a $200,000 bond, with a pre-trial hearing set for August 19. He posted on his own Facebook account Wednesday: 'Am I surprised the police investigated themselves and found out they did nothing wrong? Am I surprised they released my husband's killer after I spoke out about them? No. 'I have no faith in the criminal justice system. I only have faith that those outside a uniform who loved my husband will see to justice that doesn't cost the American taxpayers.' Kern de Gonzales also posted a TikTok video the same day in which in which he said he 'won't stop talking about this.' '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.' Chief William. P. McManus will on Thursday evening attend a neighborhood forum featuring San Antonio Pride. The police source said the force had decided to speak out, including releasing this statement to the Daily Beast, to reassure the public that it was handling the investigation sensitively and properly.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘King of the Hill' Star's Shooter ‘Maintains His Innocence'
An attorney for the man accused of killing King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss said his client 'maintains his innocence.' Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, was charged with murder in connection with the fatal June 1 shooting in San Antonio. Alvarez has since been released on bond pending an investigation into the circumstances around the shooting—which the San Antonio Police Department said is still ongoing. In a statement issued Friday, Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, urged the public to 'withhold judgment' until all the evidence in the case has been reviewed. 'Mr. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez maintains his innocence and categorically denies any accusations and statements made against him by individuals and the media,' Otero said in the statement. Otero added, 'We have confidence and trust that the judicial process will be fair to all parties involved and request everyone to respect Mr. Ceja and his family's right to privacy and his constitutional right to a fair trial.' A police report obtained by The Daily Beast, however, states that Alvarez told an officer on the scene, 'I shot him.' Police were called to Joss' address around 7 p.m. having received reports of a shooting in progress. Officers reportedly found Joss near a roadway and started life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene, The San Antonio Express-News reported. In a emotional Facebook post, Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, subsqeuently claimed the shooting was motivated by Joss' sexuality. He alleged that Alvarez had been 'yelling violent homophobic slurs at us' before he shot Joss. While the San Antonio Police Department had previously said they had 'found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation,' police chief William McManus said during a press conference on June 5 that the statement was 'way, way premature' and should not have been issued.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss' suspected killer is out of jail on $200K bail following fatal shooting
Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, the man suspected of fatally shooting King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation actor Jonathan Joss, is out of jail on a $200,000 bail. Just days after he was arrested for murder, law enforcement officers in San Antonio confirmed to TMZ that Alvarez, who was Joss' neighbor, has 'been placed under house arrest.' He is required to wear an ankle monitor and will 'undergo random drug and alcohol testing.' During his detention, Alvarez is also forbidden from possessing firearms. Joss, 59, died in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday after a reported altercation with Alvarez outside his home. Alvarez was captured by law enforcement and booked on suspicion of murder. The report from the San Antonio Police Department obtained by states Alvarez uttered 'I shot him' as he was detained by arresting officers. New details about the run-up to the violent crime have also emerged via the report, with an unnamed witness stating they drove Joss from Austin to his burned down San Antonio home around 7pm on June 1 to check his mail. The witness said she pulled up and parked in the driveway while she waited for Joss and another witness to check the mail. Joss' husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales has claimed he was with the actor on this trip and during the murder. Per the report, she said she saw suspect Alvarez pull up in his vehicle with a passenger and stop 'directly behind her car.' She allegedly saw Joss and Alvarez argue in her rearview mirror, and claimed Alvarez told Joss 'he had a gun and would shoot [Joss].' She claims Alvarez then shot Joss. Per the report, Joss was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.20pm and Alvarez was detained by police and 'immediately told them "I shot him." His weapons were seized. The report states that '[Alvarez] intentionally and knowingly discharged a weapon at [Joss] resulting in his death New details about the run-up to the violent crime have also emerged via the report, with a unnamed witness stating they drove Joss from Austin to his burned down San Antonio home around 7pm on June 1 to check his mail Joss' husband has since claimed the star's death was a homophobia-fueled murder - although police have dismissed this theory. A statement from a San Antonio PD spokesman read: '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.' Last Saturday, Joss — who boasts 9K social media followers — shared a video of himself in good spirits, urging fans to visit him at Tribe Comics and Games in Austin, TX for a signing. The Our Lady of the Lake University grad's last IMDb-credited gig was voicing characters for CD Projekt RED's video game Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty in 2023 alongside Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba. Jonathan also voiced the character Healing in Paul McComas and Holly Trasti's animated drama Unplugged alongside the late Louis Gossett Jr., the late Ed Asner, Christina Ricci and Jeri Ryan. But Joss is best known for voicing musician and healer John Redcorn, who embarked on a 14-year-long affair with anchorwoman Nancy Hicks-Gribble (Ashley Gardner), on the Fox animated sitcom from seasons 2–13. On January 23, Jonathan suffered the loss of his three beloved dogs when his childhood home, that his father built in 1957, burned to the ground. Joss also lost his car in the blaze, but the GoFundMe organized by Logan Kostroun successfully raised $21,300 from a $15K goal. But neighbors told TMZ on Monday that his house burned down because he attempted to use a BBQ pit to heat it after the city allegedly 'shut off his power when the property was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable.' On Monday, the star's widow Tristan Kern de Gonzales — whom he wed on Valentine's Day — claimed he was murdered after they were 'harassed' for two years by 'openly homophobic' individuals who 'did not accept our relationship.' 'When we returned to the site to check our mail, we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress,' the South Carolina native recalled on Facebook. 'While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired. Jonathan and I had no weapons.' 'My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together,' Tristan wrote in a Facebook He continued, '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.' Tristan added, 'My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together.' Jonathan is also remembered for his role as Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of NBC's mockumentary sitcom Parks and Recreation spanning 2011–2015. Joss had small roles in TV shows like Walker Texas Ranger, Charmed, ER, Ray Donovan and Tulsa King. He also acted in films like True Grit, The Magnificent Seven, Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World and Johnson Family Vacation.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- The Independent
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 is now facing 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 told The Independent. '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.
