Jonathan Joss, a 59-year-old voice actor recognized for his role as John Redcorn on “King of the Hill,” was shot and killed on June 1, 2025, during a confrontation with a neighbor in San Antonio, Texas. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. and police arrived at the scene of a reported shooting and found Joss near a roadway.
Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, was detained at the scene and charged with murder. According to police records, upon his arrest, Ceja admitted, “I shot him.” Ceja posted a $200,000 bond on June 2 and was released under house arrest conditions, which included random drug testing and a prohibition on possessing firearms.
Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, 32, claims the shooting was driven by anti-gay animosity. In a Facebook statement, Kern de Gonzales explained that they had returned to their former property to collect mail when they discovered the skull of one of their dogs, which had perished in a previous house fire. As they reacted emotionally, Kern de Gonzales alleges that Ceja approached them, shouted homophobic slurs, and then shot Joss in the head.
The couple’s house had burned down in January 2025, destroying their home and killing their three dogs. Police records indicate Joss suspected Ceja of arson, though the fire’s cause was listed as undetermined. Kern de Gonzales claims the fire followed over two years of threats from neighbors who had warned they would burn down the property.
Police records obtained by NBC News show that more than 70 calls were made to the residence in 2024, mostly labeled as disturbances. The San Antonio Police Department’s SAFFE unit had been mediating disputes between Ceja and Joss for over a year. In June 2024, Ceja reported that Joss approached his house with a crossbow and used racial slurs, though Joss told police he only wanted to discuss their dogs fighting.
Initially, the San Antonio Police Department released a statement indicating they had found no evidence to suggest Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation. However, Police Chief William McManus retracted this statement during a June 5 press conference, acknowledging the department’s error.
“Shouldn’t have done it,” McManus stated regarding the premature dismissal of hate crime allegations. The police chief admitted the statement was issued too early in the investigation process and expressed understanding for the anxiety felt by the LGBTQ+ community following the department’s initial response.
McManus clarified that in Texas, hate crimes are not filed as separate charges but can be used as sentencing enhancements to elevate charges from second-degree to first-degree felonies. The determination of hate crime designation occurs during sentencing rather than at the charging stage.
Kern de Gonzales recounted the final moments with his husband, explaining how Joss pushed him out of the way during the shooting, saving his life. He alleges Ceja used the Spanish slur “joto” while Joss was dying. The couple had married on Valentine’s Day 2025 in Houston after becoming homeless due to the house fire.
Joss recorded his final interview just a day before his death with hosts of “Bwaaa! The King Of The Hill Podcast” at a comedy club in Austin, Texas. During the interview, he talked about his struggles with sobriety, the house fire, and his feelings about not being invited to recent “King of the Hill” revival events. He also made an unscheduled appearance at the ATX TV Festival’s “King of the Hill” panel on May 30, despite not having a ticket.
In addition to his role as John Redcorn, Joss portrayed Chief Ken Hotate on “Parks and Recreation” and appeared in films like “True Grit,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “The Forever Purge.” He also voiced characters in video games such as “Cyberpunk 2077” and appeared in TV shows including “ER,” “Charmed,” and “Friday Night Lights.”
Former “Parks and Recreation” cast members have shared their grief over Joss’ death. Nick Offerman told People magazine that the cast had been texting about the loss all day and described themselves as heartbroken. He remembered Joss as a sweet person and called his death a terrible tragedy. Chris Pratt also paid tribute to his former co-star on Instagram, though his brief statement drew criticism from some social media users who felt it was inadequately worded given the circumstances.
Ceja has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for August 19, 2025. Under his bond conditions, he remains under house arrest and is prohibited from contacting Joss’ family. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death.
The upcoming “King of the Hill” revival on Hulu will honor the late Johnny Hardwick and Jonathan Joss with memoriam cards featured in several episodes. Both actors completed their voice work for Season 14 before passing away. Executive producers announced these tributes on Friday during the show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con.