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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘King of the Hill' voice actor Jonathan Joss shooting suspect released from jail on $200K bond
The man accused of killing voice actor Jonathan Joss was released from jail on Monday, after allegedly admitting to authorities what he had done, according to a police report obtained by KSAT. Joss, 59, was best known for his character John Redcorn on King of the Hill. He was shot and killed on his property in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday night, authorities said. The suspect, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, who was Joss's neighbor, posted a $200,000 bond Monday night, a Bexar County court spokesperson told Yahoo News. (The San Antonio police report originally misstated his name as Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja.) He is now under house arrest (and thus subject to random drug testing) is not allowed access to any firearms and cannot make contact with Joss's family. Ceja Alvarez allegedly told San Antonio police, 'I shot him,' after he was taken into custody on Sunday, KSAT reported. Officers responded to a call about a shooting around 7 p.m. on Sunday on the south side of San Antonio. Police found Joss near the roadway, and police attempted life-saving measures until the EMS arrived and pronounced him dead. Ceja Alvarez had fled the scene but was caught and arrested by police one block away, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged in a post on Joss's Facebook page on Monday that Joss was 'murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.' 'He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us,' Kern de Gonzales wrote. 'He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.' San Antonio police said in a statement on Monday that their investigation has found no evidence that shows 'Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation.' A court hearing for Ceja Alvarez has been scheduled for Aug. 19, according to News 4 San Antonio. Joss was best known for his role as John Redcorn on King of the Hill, which aired from 1997 until 2009. He took over for the original Redcorn voice actor, Victor Aaron, in the show's second season, after Aaron died in a car accident. Joss also played the recurring role of Chief Ken Hotate in NBC's Parks and Recreation and appeared onscreen in Ray Donovan, True Grit and The Magnificent Seven. King of the Hill was revived for its 14th season, which will premiere on Hulu in August. Joss was not invited to partake in the revival, but he did attend the King of the Hill cast panel at 7 p.m. local time at Austin's ATX TV Festival on Friday, roughly 48 hours before he was found shot in San Antonio. Joss lost two dogs and his San Antonio childhood home in a fire in January. 'This is a house I grew up in. I'm more concerned about my dog that died, but you know what? The good Lord will protect us,' Joss told KSAT at the time, adding that his father built the home in 1957. Joss was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache ancestry, and his performances as Native characters on TV resonated with a lot of fans who took to social media to commend Joss's work. 'John Redcorn was pretty much the only contemporary Native representation I had in comedy growing up,' one viewer wrote on X. 'Probably the funniest Native character in cartoon history and a lot of that was on Jonathan Joss' pitch perfect rezzy uncle performance. RIP to one of the best to ever do it.' Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the day this shooting took place.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Chris Pratt mourns Jonathan Joss death after Parks and Recreation co-star fatally shot in San Antonio
Actor Chris Pratt has paid tribute to his Parks and Recreation co-star Jonathan Joss following news of the actor's death in a fatal shooting in San Antonio, Texas. Joss, best known for portraying Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of the NBC sitcom between 2011 and 2015, was pronounced dead at the scene on Sunday, June 1. He was 59. Chris Pratt reacts to the loss of 'Parks and Recreation' co-star Jonathan Joss: 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 3, 2025 Joss was also widely recognized for voicing John Redcorn on the long-running animated series King of the Hill. In addition to their work on Parks and Recreation, Pratt and Joss appeared together in the 2016 film The Magnificent Seven, where Joss played an exiled Comanche warrior and Pratt was one of the titular Seven. Reacting to the news, Pratt shared a message on his Instagram Story: 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, also reflected on the loss, telling People magazine: 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.' Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed in a Facebook post that the couple had been subjected to ongoing homophobic harassment in their neighborhood, including threats and a house fire. He alleged they had received repeated warnings that their home would be set on fire. However, the San Antonio Police Department stated there is currently 'no evidence to indicate Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' As the investigation continues, friends and colleagues are remembering Joss for his kindness and significant contributions to television and film.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
What we know about fatal shooting of King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss
Joss' childhood home, where he still lived, burnt down in January. He lost all his belongings and his three dogs were killed in the blaze. A GoFundMe account had been set up to help Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, get back on their feet. Loading 'We may have lost our home, but not our hope. We're moving forward with love, humour, and a little elbow grease … and we're incredibly grateful for every ounce of support,' Joss said in a May 14 Facebook post in which he indicated he was in Los Angeles looking for a new home. By the end of May, Joss was back in Texas, and on Saturday, he took part in a live music performance in Austin, about 130 kilometres north-east of San Antonio. Who is accused of fatally shooting Joss? Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, is accused by police of confronting Joss and his husband as they were checking their mail at the burnt-down home on Sunday night. In a statement, Gonzales alleged that when Alvarez opened fire, Joss pushed his husband out of the way and saved his life. Alvarez was charged with murder. Court records indicate he was freed on Monday on a $200,000 ($309,000) bond. Robert Rios, a friend of Joss', told TV station KSAT that Joss and Alvarez were neighbours and the two had argued for years. How is Joss being remembered by friends, actors? Actor Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on Parks and Recreation, fondly remembered the actor in an Instagram story. Both actors had also appeared in the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,' Pratt wrote. 'Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.'
The Age
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
What we know about fatal shooting of King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss
Joss' childhood home, where he still lived, burnt down in January. He lost all his belongings and his three dogs were killed in the blaze. A GoFundMe account had been set up to help Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, get back on their feet. Loading 'We may have lost our home, but not our hope. We're moving forward with love, humour, and a little elbow grease … and we're incredibly grateful for every ounce of support,' Joss said in a May 14 Facebook post in which he indicated he was in Los Angeles looking for a new home. By the end of May, Joss was back in Texas, and on Saturday, he took part in a live music performance in Austin, about 130 kilometres north-east of San Antonio. Who is accused of fatally shooting Joss? Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, is accused by police of confronting Joss and his husband as they were checking their mail at the burnt-down home on Sunday night. In a statement, Gonzales alleged that when Alvarez opened fire, Joss pushed his husband out of the way and saved his life. Alvarez was charged with murder. Court records indicate he was freed on Monday on a $200,000 ($309,000) bond. Robert Rios, a friend of Joss', told TV station KSAT that Joss and Alvarez were neighbours and the two had argued for years. How is Joss being remembered by friends, actors? Actor Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on Parks and Recreation, fondly remembered the actor in an Instagram story. Both actors had also appeared in the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,' Pratt wrote. 'Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.'
