Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Killed in Shooting Near Home

Tue 3rd Jun, 2025

San Antonio, Texas - Jonathan Joss, renowned for his voice role as John Redcorn in the animated series King of the Hill, was fatally shot outside his residence on Sunday evening. Authorities responded to reports of a shooting near his home around 7 p.m. and discovered the 59-year-old actor suffering from gunshot wounds.

The San Antonio police confirmed that despite the officers' attempts to administer first aid, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services. Joss's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared the devastating news with media outlets, revealing their recent marriage on Valentine's Day earlier this year.

Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, as the police have not disclosed the motives behind the shooting. However, de Gonzales indicated that the couple had previously experienced harassment, which he described as predominantly "openly homophobic." He reported that the shooter shouted violent slurs before opening fire.

De Gonzales expressed his grief, stating, "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other." Witnesses reported that Joss pushed de Gonzales to safety during the attack, ultimately sacrificing himself to save his partner's life.

Following the incident, law enforcement apprehended 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, who has been charged with murder in connection with Joss's death. As of now, Ceja remains in custody at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, with no attorney listed to represent him in court.

In a statement regarding the investigation, the San Antonio police asserted that their findings do not indicate any link between the murder and Joss's sexual orientation. "We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly," the police stated.

Joss, who spent his formative years in San Antonio, gained acclaim for his work on King of the Hill, which aired for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. He also appeared in the series Parks and Recreation as Chief Ken Hotate and had guest roles in Tulsa King in 2022. His involvement in the entertainment industry continued, as he recently attended events promoting the upcoming revival of King of the Hill.

Just days before his untimely death, Joss posted on social media about signing autographs at a comic book store in Austin, where he had been participating in promotional events for the beloved series. He expressed his excitement for fans to revisit the show, stating that he had already completed voice work for four episodes of the revival.

A GoFundMe page had previously been established to assist Joss after a house fire in January claimed the lives of his three dogs and left significant damage to their home. The page detailed that Joss lost all of his possessions in that tragic event.

In a heartfelt message, de Gonzales conveyed Joss's appreciation for his fans, saying, "To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family."


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