Actor Jonathan Joss, best known for his role as John Redcorn on the animated series King of the Hill, has tragically died at the age of 59 after being shot by a neighbor during a confrontation, according to reports from the police.
Joss had a varied career, making appearances on television shows such as Parks and Recreation, Ray Donovan, and Tulsa King. However, his portrayal of John Redcorn on King of the Hill remains his most recognized role.
San Antonio Police have reported that the fatal incident occurred on Sunday, June 1, following an argument between Joss and his neighbor, 56-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, which resulted in Alvarez shooting Joss.
Variety has reported that authorities were called to a shooting at around 7pm on Sunday, where they discovered Joss with multiple gunshot wounds at the roadside. He was declared dead at the location.
Following the shooting, Alvarez was apprehended and is now facing murder charges, as confirmed by the San Antonio Police Department on Monday, June 2.
While the exact cause of the dispute remains unclear, Joss’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, has shared his perspective on the situation via Facebook.
In his post, he stated: “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.”
Kern de Gonzales described Joss as his husband and expressed the deep love they shared, emphasizing their recent nuptials and plans for the future.
He further claimed that the incident stemmed from a hate crime, alleging that the couple faced harassment due to their sexual orientation.
He recounted: “He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.”
The New York Times has reported that the couple had previously informed authorities of the alleged harassment, though it appears the issue persisted.
In a statement on Twitter, San Antonio Police noted that they have not found any evidence to suggest that Joss’s murder was motivated by his sexual orientation.
The statement read: “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.”
“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.”
Kern de Gonzales has shifted his focus to preserving Joss’s legacy and respecting the life they shared.
He remarked: “If your concern is how someone coped with trauma or how loudly they speak when recounting injustice and being ignored by authorities then you never truly cared about my husband.”
“Jonathan saved my life. I will carry that forward. I will protect what he built.”.