Okay, deep breath—this one’s rough. Here’s what you need to know:
- King of the Hill’s Jonathan Joss (aka John Redcorn) has been shot and killed.
- His husband says it was a homophobic hate crime.
- They were grieving their dog at their burned-down home when it happened.
- Jonathan died saving his husband’s life.
- He wasn’t just a voice—he was an advocate, an icon, and a fighter for Native representation.
Let’s break down what happened—and why it matters.
1. Here’s What Happened
So Jonathan, 59, and his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales had moved out of their San Antonio neighborhood earlier this year after their house burned down (because 2025 is apparently trying to set a high score for tragedy). But they returned recently to pick up some leftover mail—you know, normal, mundane stuff.
What they didn’t expect? To find the skull of their beloved dog in the ashes. Cue full emotional meltdown. Who wouldn’t cry?
But wait. It gets worse.
While they were grieving (read: literally sobbing over their dead dog), a man—allegedly a former neighbor—rolled up, started yelling violent, homophobic slurs, and then pulled a gun. According to Tristan, the guy straight-up opened fire.
Jonathan—a literal hero—pushed Tristan out of the way. He saved his husband’s life. He didn’t have a weapon. He wasn’t making threats. He was just… loving his partner. And for that, he was killed.
Let that sink in.
2. The Alleged Shooter
Police say they found Jonathan with multiple gunshot wounds just after 7 p.m. Sunday night. Despite medics trying to save him, he died on the scene.
The alleged shooter? A guy named Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam. He took off, but was caught a block away. He’s now facing murder charges. And yeah, the investigation is still ongoing, but early reports suggest these two had a long, rocky history of fights—verbal and physical.
On social media, Tristan didn’t hold back. He laid it all out:
“Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
He added that they were routinely harassed in that neighborhood because of their relationship. His words? “Jonathan was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.” 💔
3. A Voice That Mattered
Aside from King of the Hill, Joss had a legit resume. You’ve seen (or heard) him in Parks and Rec as Chief Ken Hotate, plus roles in Ray Donovan, Tulsa King, True Grit, and The Magnificent Seven. And fun fact—he just reunited with his King of the Hill castmates at the ATX TV Festival to hype up the reboot. Yes, he’d already recorded his parts.
Jonathan wasn’t just a talented voice actor—he was also a proud Comanche and White Mountain Apache man who refused to let Hollywood get away with lazy Native American stereotypes. He was passionate about making Native stories modern, real, and nuanced. In his own words, Hollywood’s scared, but it’s still worth it to take a stand.
4. The Takeaway?
This is one of those stories that makes your heart ache and your blood boil. We lost a voice, an advocate, and a beautiful soul to hate. Full stop.
Let’s honor Jonathan Joss not just for the characters he gave life to, but for the love he gave so fiercely—to his craft, his culture, and his husband.