Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot Near Texas Home

Jonathan Joss, a well-known actor recognized for his voice work on the animated television series King of the Hill and his role on Parks and Recreation, tragically lost his life in a shooting near his home in Texas, authorities reported on Monday.

The police received a distress call about a ongoing shooting at a residence in south San Antonio around 7 p.m. on Sunday. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered the 59-year-old Joss wounded near the street.

“The officers tried to save his life until EMS arrived. Unfortunately, EMS declared the victim deceased,” stated the San Antonio police.

Following the incident, authorities apprehended 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, charging him with murder in connection to Joss’s death.

Joss, who was raised in San Antonio, was most famous for his portrayal of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the beloved Fox animated series King of the Hill that aired from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show is scheduled to premiere in August, and Joss had reportedly begun recording audio for it.

Additionally, Joss had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, portraying Chief Ken Hotate. He made appearances in two episodes of the series Tulsa King in 2022.

The devastating news of Joss’s passing was confirmed by his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales.

“He was murdered,” de Gonzales conveyed to The Associated Press via text. The couple had tied the knot earlier this year on Valentine’s Day.

Investigation Continues, Say Police

In a statement, de Gonzales revealed that prior to the shooting, he and Joss were checking the mail at Joss’s residence, which had been severely damaged in a fire in January that also claimed the lives of their three dogs. According to de Gonzales, a man approached them and brandished a gun.

“Jonathan and I were unarmed. We posed no threat to anyone. We were grieving. We stood together. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of harm’s way. He saved my life,” de Gonzales stated.

Police disclosed that their inquiry was ongoing and did not furnish any immediate information regarding the motive behind the shooting.

There was no attorney listed in court records who could advocate for Ceja, currently detained at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.

A GoFundMe page had been established in January for Joss following the house fire. The page indicated that Joss had lost all his possessions in the fire, including his vehicle.

Actor was Engaged in King of the Hill Revival

Before the tragic incident, Joss had been in Austin, situated about 130 kilometers northeast of San Antonio, for activities associated with a preview of the King of the Hill revival.

On Saturday, Joss uploaded a video on Instagram in which he mentioned signing autographs at a comic book store in Austin.

“Fans will get to revisit King of the Hill once again, which I believe is fantastic because it’s a fantastic show,” Joss remarked in the video, mentioning that he had already completed voice work for four episodes of the revival.

De Gonzales expressed that his partner was appreciative of his supporters.

“To everyone who stood by him, his fans, his friends, understand that he cherished you deeply. He regarded you as family,” de Gonzales conveyed.