Jonathan Joss, a 59-year-old gay Native American actor best known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill, was fatally shot in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday in what his husband described as a homophobic attack by a neighbour.
Joss, who also portrayed tribal leader Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation, was visiting the site of his former home, destroyed in a fire earlier this year, when the incident occurred. His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, confirmed the tragic news in a Facebook post on Monday.
“We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw,” wrote de Gonzales. “While we were doing this, a man approached us. He started yelling violent, homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.”
According to de Gonzales, Joss shielded him from the gunfire, pushing him out of harm’s way.
“[Joss] was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other… Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving.”
Ongoing Threats and Alleged Inaction
Police arrived at the scene around 7 p.m. and found Joss near the roadside. Despite attempts by medics to resuscitate him, he died at the scene. A suspect, 56-year-old neighbour Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam, was quickly arrested and charged with murder. According to TMZ, Cejam allegedly drove over Joss’ body while fleeing.
The couple had previously reported threats from people in the neighbourhood, including warnings that their home would be burned down. The fire in February, which killed their three dogs, remains under investigation.
“We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times, and nothing was done,” de Gonzales wrote. “Jonathan is my husband. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get.”
Legacy and Representation
Joss was set to reprise his role as John Redcorn in the upcoming King of the Hill revival on Hulu, scheduled for release in August. His death marks a tragic loss not only for the entertainment industry but for LGBTQ+ and Native American representation in media.
A 2024 study found that of all scripted U.S. television shows airing between 2020 and 2022, only 51 featured Native American characters. Of those, just 3% were LGBTQ+, and all were women. The same study revealed that audiences exposed to Native American characters on screen were more likely to hold positive and supportive views of Native communities in real life.
“My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honouring the life we built together,” de Gonzales added. “We were newlyweds… planning our future. I told him how much he was loved.”
