Additional Coverage:
- Slurs, 911 calls and a crossbow: Records detail neighborhood disputes before Jonathan Joss’ killing (nbcnews.com)
Tragedy Strikes San Antonio as Voice Actor Jonathan Joss is Killed in Neighborhood Dispute
San Antonio, TX – Beloved voice actor Jonathan Joss, known for his role as John Redcorn in the animated sitcom “King of the Hill,” was shot and killed outside his San Antonio home on Sunday. The incident culminated a long-standing feud with neighbors, and police have arrested a suspect.
Joss, 59, was with his husband, 32-year-old Tristan Kern de Gonzales, when he was fatally shot in the head. A distraught Kern de Gonzales recounted his final moments with Joss, saying, “I told him I loved him.
Despite everything, he looked at me, so I know he heard me.” Kern de Gonzales alleges that the suspect used an anti-gay slur before shooting Joss.
Police swiftly arrested 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, one of the couple’s neighbors, in connection with the shooting. According to a police report, Ceja admitted to the shooting upon his arrest.
While Kern de Gonzales believes the killing was motivated by homophobia, the San Antonio Police Department stated there is currently no evidence to support this claim. The investigation is ongoing and a motive has yet to be officially determined.
The incident marks a tragic end to a tumultuous period for the couple. Kern de Gonzales and Joss had a history of disputes with their neighbors, including Ceja.
Neighbors complained about noise, and Kern de Gonzales claims they were subjected to anti-gay slurs. Police records indicate numerous calls to the couple’s residence for disturbances.
The conflict with Ceja appears to have been particularly volatile. Police mediated a dispute between the two men for over a year.
Previous incidents include Joss allegedly approaching Ceja’s house with a crossbow and accusing Ceja of setting fire to their home, a claim that remains unresolved. Ceja, in turn, had previously reported Joss for allegedly approaching his home with a crossbow and using racial slurs.
On the day of the shooting, Kern de Gonzales says he and Joss returned to their property to collect mail and found a dog skull, which they believed was a taunt from a neighbor. This reportedly led Joss to confront neighbors while carrying a pitchfork. Shortly after, the confrontation with Ceja occurred, resulting in the fatal shooting.
Ceja has not yet retained legal counsel. The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of Jonathan Joss.