Jonathan Joss, the 59-year-old voice actor best known for playing John Redcorn on “King of the Hill,” was fatally shot on June 1, 2025, during a confrontation with his neighbor in San Antonio, Texas. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. when officers responded to a shooting in progress and found Joss near a roadway.
Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, 56, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. According to police records, Ceja told officers upon his arrest, “I shot him” when taken into custody. Ceja posted $200,000 bond on June 2 and was released under house arrest conditions, including random drug testing and a prohibition on firearms possession.
Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, 32, alleged that the shooting was motivated by anti-gay hatred. According to his Facebook statement, the couple had returned to their former property to check mail when they discovered the skull of one of their dogs that had died in a previous house fire. While they were grieving over this discovery, Kern de Gonzales claims Ceja approached them and began yelling homophobic slurs before shooting Joss in the head.
The couple’s property had burned down in January 2025, an incident that destroyed their home and killed their three dogs. Police records indicate Joss suspected Ceja of arson, though the fire’s cause was classified as undetermined. Kern de Gonzales alleged that the house fire followed over two years of threats from neighbors who had repeatedly told them they would burn down the property.
Police records obtained by NBC News revealed more than 40 calls to the residence in 2024, with most labeled as disturbances. The San Antonio Police Department’s SAFFE unit had been mediating disputes between Ceja and Joss for over a year. In June 2024, Ceja reported that Joss approached his house with a crossbow and used racial slurs, though Joss told police he only wanted to discuss their dogs fighting.
Despite the husband’s allegations of a hate crime, the San Antonio Police Department issued a statement indicating their investigation found no evidence that Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation. The department emphasized that they take such allegations seriously and thoroughly reviewed all available information, stating they will charge the suspect accordingly if new evidence emerges.
Kern de Gonzales described the final moments with his husband, explaining how Joss pushed him out of the way during the shooting, saving his life. He alleged that Ceja used the Spanish slur “joto” while Joss was dying. The couple had married on Valentine’s Day 2025 in Houston after becoming homeless due to the house fire.
Joss recorded his final interview just one day before his death with hosts of “Bwaaa! The King Of The Hill Podcast” at a comedy club in Austin. During the interview, he discussed his struggles with sobriety, the house fire, and his feelings about not being invited to recent “King of the Hill” revival events. He also made an impromptu appearance at the ATX TV Festival’s “King of the Hill” panel on May 30, despite not having a ticket to the event.
Beyond his iconic role as John Redcorn, Joss played Chief Ken Hotate on “Parks and Recreation” and appeared in films including “True Grit,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “The Forever Purge.” He also voiced characters in video games like “Cyberpunk 2077” and appeared in television shows including “ER,” “Charmed,” and “Friday Night Lights.”
Former “Parks and Recreation” cast members expressed their grief over Joss’s death. Nick Offerman told People magazine that the cast had been texting about the loss all day and described themselves as heartbroken. He remembered Joss as a sweet person and called his death a terrible tragedy. Chris Pratt also paid tribute to his former costar on Instagram, though his brief statement drew criticism from some social media users who felt it was inadequately worded given the circumstances of Joss’ death.
Ceja has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for August 19, 2025. Under his bond conditions, he remains under house arrest and is prohibited from contacting Joss’ family. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death.
The upcoming “King of the Hill” revival on Hulu will honor the late Johnny Hardwick and Jonathan Joss with memoriam cards featured in several episodes. Both actors completed their voice work for Season 14 before passing away. Executive producers announced these tributes on Friday during the show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con.
