Jonathan Joss killing was not a homophobic hate crime, say police despite husband’s claims

Actor Jonathan Joss’ killing was not a homophobic hate crime, according to Texas police.

Joss, known for his roles in King Of The Hill and Parks And Recreation, was killed in a shooting on Saturday (May 31).

San Antonio police confirmed to NBC News that officers were dispatched while the shooting was in progress and found him near the road and, despite attempts to revive him, Joss was found dead on the scene.

Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, has since been arrested and charged with murder.

The police have now said Joss’ death was not a homophobic attack despite claims by his husband.

SAPD Homicide is currently investigating the murder of Mr. Jonathan Joss. Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.

— San Antonio PD (@SATXPolice) June 2, 2025

SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information. Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly.

— San Antonio PD (@SATXPolice) June 2, 2025

“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,” San Antonio Police Department wrote on X.

“SAPD investigators handle these allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information,” the department added. “Should any new evidence come to light, the suspect will be charged accordingly.”

This came after Tristan Kern de Gonzales, Joss’ husband, posted a statement to the actor’s Facebook page claiming the incident was a homophobic hate crime.

Gonzales said he and Joss were checking their mail at the site of their former home, which was burned down in a fire in January, when the attack occurred. The couple previously lost their three dogs in the fire.

“When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw,” Gonzales wrote.

Gonzales went on to say a man approached the pair and “started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.”

He continued: “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.”

Gonzales said he and Joss “were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic.”

Joss was best known for playing John Redcorn in the animated comedy series King Of The Hill, where he was one of the show’s main voice actors until it ended after 13 seasons in 2010.

He also had a five-episode-long stint on Parks and Recreation, playing Ken Hotate – an elder of the Wamapoke Native American tribe. Joss’ other acting roles include appearances in Tulsa King and the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven.

Outside of acting, Joss was also known as a musician, performing as part of The Red Corn Band. He posted on Facebook over the weekend about a gig he played, writing: “Last night’s gig was amazing – huge thanks to everyone who came out and showed us love! We’re feeling so grateful for the support and good vibes.”

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