Hate Crime Killing: Police Investigation
- San Antonio authorities are now considering whether the sexual orientation of actor Jonathan Joss played a role in his death.
- Joss, known for his voice work on King of the Hill, was fatally shot Sunday night near his home in San Antonio, Texas.
- Following the shooting, Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged on social media that their neighbor approached them, shouting homophobic slurs before firing a gun.
Police are now actively investigating teh murder of actor Jonathan Joss as a potential hate crime, a stark shift from initial statements. San Antonio authorities are examining whether Joss’ sexual orientation fueled the tragic shooting, following claims of homophobic slurs and a fatal confrontation with a neighbor now charged with the crime. News Directory 3 is closely following the evolving details of this case, including the police chief’s acknowledgment of a premature statement. The examination into the primary_keyword hate crime and secondary_keyword sexual orientation angle continues, with the district attorney poised to make the final hate crime determination. Discover what’s next as the investigation unfolds.
San Antonio Police Investigate Hate Crime Angle in Jonathan Joss Death
Updated June 7,2025
San Antonio authorities are now considering whether the sexual orientation of actor Jonathan Joss played a role in his death. this comes after an initial police statement appeared to dismiss that possibility.
Joss, known for his voice work on King of the Hill, was fatally shot Sunday night near his home in San Antonio, Texas. Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, a neighbor, has been arrested and charged with murder, according to investigators.
Following the shooting, Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged on social media that their neighbor approached them, shouting homophobic slurs before firing a gun. De Gonzales said Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life. He stated that neither he nor Joss had any weapons and posed no threat.
The San Antonio Police Department posted on social media the day after the incident that there was “no evidence” to suggest the murder was related to Joss’ sexual orientation,despite online claims of a hate crime. Though, Police Chief William McManus stated at a Thursday press conference that the earlier statement was “premature.”
McManus acknowledged the misstep, saying the department “shouldn’t have done that” so early in the investigation.He added that authorities are now exploring the possibility that the actor’s sexual orientation was a motive in the killing.
McManus said, “The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community.” He added that the police gather facts and present them to the district attorney, who determines if a hate crime designation is warranted at sentencing.
“Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone,” said de Gonzales. “We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
Following news of his death, Joss’ colleagues from King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation shared tributes. Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson, co-creators and revival showrunner of King of the Hill, posted an image of Joss and his character, John Redcorn, on Instagram.Thay wrote that Joss brought the character to life for over a dozen seasons, including the upcoming revival, and that his voice would be missed.
What’s next
The investigation into Jonathan Joss’ death continues, with authorities focusing on whether it constitutes a hate crime. The district attorney’s office will ultimately decide on the hate crime designation during sentencing, pending the outcome of the investigation.