Actor Jonathan Joss Murdered In Horrifying Hate Crime
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CONTENT WARNING: This article contains details of a horrific and tragic event.
A truly horrific bit of news has been released this week, as actor Jonathan Joss, likely best known to fans as John Redcorn in King of the Hill and as Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation, was murdered outside of his home on Sunday, June 1st, 2025. While a suspect attempted to flee the scene of the crime, they were stopped by police and charged with murder.
While TMZ originally broke the story, they did so, leaving out critical details later supplied by Jonathan’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, in a devastating Facebook post. The pair had been the target of homophobic harassment for years and had received severe threats both to their property and well-being during their time. Their home, in particular, was apparently singled out in these encounters and suddenly burned down in recent months, fulfilling threats made by those who had harassed them.
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The two had returned to the site of their burned-down house on the day of the shooting to check their mail. Tristan states that they found the skull and harness of one of their dogs positioned in such a way as to clearly display it to people visiting the property. The two had an immediate emotional reaction before the murder suspect approached the pair. He shouted homophobic slurs at both of them before producing a weapon and firing it. Jonathan Joss pushed his partner out of the way, saving his life, though at the cost of his own.
Despite this apparent chain of events, the San Antonio police department has stated that there is “no evidence to indicate Mr. Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation.” which would strongly contradict the statement of de Gonzales, especially given he also claims the two repeatedly made reports with the police over the years, and no action was taken against those who harassed them.
The reporting around this event has also been heavily skewed, and not just from TMZ, with many headlines avoiding any mention of the nature of the attack as stated by Tristan Kern de Gonzales. Many news organizations have thus reduced the event to a “fight between neighbors” or some other unclear altercation. But this was clearly a murder, possibly presaged by as much as two years, and it was a hate crime motivated by homophobia against two men who loved each other.
Jonathan Joss was midway into recording new lines for John Redcorn’s return in the King of the Hill reboot before his death. The show will have to reconcile with this tragic passing by recasting, working his departure into the story, or leaving the character mute in further storylines.
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Source(s): Variety
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