The Indigenous Actor Was Fatally Shot During a Targeted Attack in San Antonio
Jonathan Joss, the LGBTQ actor best known for voicing John Redcorn on the long-running animated series King of the Hill, was murdered Saturday in San Antonio, according to police and his husband. He was 59.
Joss, who also appeared in Parks and Recreation, Tulsa King, Ray Donovan, and True Grit, was shot while visiting the site of his former home, which had previously been destroyed by fire. His husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said in a Facebook post on Joss’ official account that the couple had been checking the mail when they were approached by a man who began shouting homophobic slurs before firing a weapon.
“Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving,” de Gonzales wrote in a public statement. “Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
Joss portrayed the character of John Redcorn from Season 2 through the show’s final episode in 2009. He had also completed voice work for the upcoming King of the Hill revival, which is set to debut on Hulu on August 4. He is expected to appear in at least one of the early episodes.
San Antonio police confirmed the shooting to Variety, saying that San Antonio police responded to reports of a shooting in progress around 7 p.m. Sunday and found actor Jonathan Joss lying near the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers administered life-saving aid until paramedics arrived, but Joss was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspected shooter fled the area by car but was apprehended by police just one block away. He was taken into custody and booked on a murder charge.
De Gonzales said the couple had faced two years of threats and harassment before the fire that destroyed their home. The threats, which he said were often homophobic, were reported to authorities multiple times.
“When we returned to the site to check our mail, we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view,” he wrote. “This caused both of us severe emotional distress.”
Joss’s career spanned decades and included work across film, television, and voice acting. He played Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation and had supporting roles in films such as The Magnificent Seven.
De Gonzales said, “My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together.”
“He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get,” the statement read. “He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.”
