Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing John Redcorn in the long-running animated series "King of the Hill," was shot and killed in San Antonio on June 1, according to local authorities. He was 59.
The San Antonio Police Department confirmed the arrest of 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, who has been charged with first-degree murder. His bond was set at $200,000. Officers responding to a report of a shooting on Dorsey Drive around 7 p.m. found Joss, legally named Jonathan Joss Gonzales, near the road. Emergency medical services pronounced him dead at the scene.
In a statement posted to X, police said, "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, Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged in a Facebook post that the shooting stemmed from a homophobic confrontation outside their former residence. "Jonathan and I had no weapons. 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," he wrote.
Joss and his husband were reportedly visiting the burned-down home when they found the skull and harness of one of their deceased dogs. According to Gonzales, the discovery triggered a breakdown and drew the attention of the suspect, who allegedly approached them and began yelling slurs before opening fire.
Just days before the incident, Joss had attended the ATX TV Festival in Austin, where he was reportedly escorted out of a "King of the Hill" panel at the Paramount Theatre. According to eyewitness accounts reported by People, Joss took the microphone during the Q&A segment without prompting, expressed disappointment at not being included in the event, and was removed by security after addressing the audience emotionally. "I'm an actor. I see a mic, I use it. I see a wrong, I make it right," Joss said during his remarks.
In March, Joss lost his San Antonio home in a fire that killed three of his dogs. At the time, a GoFundMe campaign raised over $10,000 to support his recovery. In a past interview, Joss said he was unemployed at the time and expressed distress over the loss. The property, built by his father in 1957, had reportedly been targeted by neighborhood hostility, which Gonzales said included prior threats and homophobic harassment.
Joss voiced John Redcorn on "King of the Hill" from seasons 2 through 13, and the character is set to appear in the upcoming Hulu revival of the series. He also played Ken Hotate on "Parks and Recreation" and appeared in series such as "Ray Donovan" and "Friday Night Lights." His most recent credit was in the 2023 video game "Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty."
The investigation into Joss's death remains ongoing.
