A fatal shooting in Texas claimed the life of Jonathan Joss, the actor best known for voicing John Redcorn on King of the Hill. He was 59. San Antonio police confirmed that they found Joss near a roadway with multiple gunshot wounds after responding to reports of gunfire. Emergency responders tried to revive him, but they ultimately pronounced him dead at the scene,
Joss voiced John Redcorn from seasons two through thirteen and reportedly recorded new lines for the upcoming King of the Hill reboot on Hulu, which will premiere in August.
Tristan Kern de Gonzales, Joss’s husband, described the incident as a homophobic hate crime. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” and said the couple had faced ongoing homophobic harassment from neighbors.
Homophobic Hate Crime
Kern de Gonzales said he and Joss were visiting the remains of their former home. A fire destroyed the house earlier this year and killed their three dogs. They found a skull believed to be from one of the pets. While they stood crying and yelling in grief, a man approached them, allegedly shouted homophobic slurs, and pulled a gun.
“We were standing side by side,” Kern de Gonzales recalled. “When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
Although Kern de Gonzales has described the attack as a hate crime, San Antonio police stated they have not yet found evidence to support that claim. They added that they would reevaluate the charges if new information emerges.
Nick Offerman, who worked with Joss on Parks and Recreation, mourned his former co-star, calling the shooting a “terrible tragedy.” He said, “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.”
Police arrested 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja and charged him with first-degree murder.
