Jonathan Joss dead: Parks and Recreation actor dies aged 59 after being shot by neighbour following ‘argument’
Jonathan Joss, the 59-year-old voice actor known for his roles in “King of the Hill” and “Parks and Recreation,” was shot and killed by his neighbour in San Antonio on June 1 following a heated argument.
San Antonio Police Department confirmed that Sigfredo Alvarez-Ceja, aged 56, has been arrested and charged with murder.
Officers were dispatched to a shooting in progress on Sunday evening at approximately 7pm on Dorsey Drive. The suspect allegedly shot Joss multiple times before attempting to flee the scene in a car.
Alvarez-Ceja was detained by police a block away from the crime scene and has been booked for murder.
Joss’s husband released a statement via the actor’s Facebook page announcing his death in which he shared a series of allegations about the ordeal.
Tristan Kern de Gonzales wrote: “My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home.
“That home was burned down after over two years of threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set it on fire. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.
“Throughout that time we were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship. Much of the harassment was openly homophobic. 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.
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“This caused both of us severe emotional distress. We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw. 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.
“Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life. Jonathan is my husband. He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get.
“We were newlyweds. We picked Valentines Day. We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future. He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other. I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved.
“To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together. If your concern is how someone coped with trauma or how loudly they speak when recounting injustice and being ignored by authorities then you never truly cared about my husband. Jonathan saved my life. I will carry that forward. I will protect what he built.”
Joss was best known for voicing John Redcorn from season two through season 13 of the animated series King of the Hill, taking over the role after original voice actor Victor Aaron died in a car accident in 1996. He had already recorded lines for the upcoming revival of the popular animated series.
The actor also portrayed Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of the sitcom Parks and Recreation. His television credits included appearances in ER, Charmed, Ray Donovan, Friday Night Lights, and more recently Tulsa King in 2022.
Born in San Antonio on December 22, 1965, Joss had Comanche and White Mountain Apache ancestry and graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University with a degree in theatre and speech.
In January 2025, Joss suffered a devastating personal tragedy when he lost his childhood home in south San Antonio and three dogs in a major fire.
“This wasn’t just any home – it was the house his father built for his mother in 1957, filled with a lifetime of memories. Tragically, three of Jonathan’s dogs also perished in the blaze, adding immeasurable emotional pain to an already heartbreaking situation,” according to a GoFundMe page established following the incident.
At the time, Joss told local news station KSAT 12: “I don’t have a job. I don’t have children. I don’t have a place to stay.”
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Joss near the roadway and attempted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to resuscitate him.
The investigation into the shooting and murder remains ongoing, according to San Antonio Police Department.
Police say the source of the initial conflict between Joss and his neighbour is unknown despite his husband’s claims, though witnesses reported seeing the two men arguing before the fatal shooting occurred.
Alvarez-Ceja’s bond has been set at £160,000. Two days before the shooting, Joss had appeared unannounced at a King of the Hill cast reunion in Austin and conducted his final interview with a fan podcast.