"King of the Hill" voice actor Jonathan Joss was shot and killed in Texas in what was purported to be a homophobic incident.

He was fifty-nine.

Officers responded to a shooting complaint on the south part of the city at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to San Antonio police. Joss was discovered hurt next to the road. Officers tried to save his life, but paramedics at the scene declared him dead.

Ceja is still being held at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center as of this writing, and no lawyer has been assigned to represent him.

A Heartbreaking Act of Violence Rooted in Hate Tristan Kern de Gonzales, the actor's spouse, gave an honest, tearful description of what transpired that night after confirming the actor's passing in a statement to the Associated Press. Just a few months prior, on Valentine's Day, the couple had tied the knot and were starting over after their three pets perished in a terrible house fire in January.

De Gonzales claims that a man with a gun approached the couple while they were checking the mail outside the destroyed house. He claims that before starting to shoot, the attacker yelled "violent homophobic obscenities."

"Neither Jonathan nor I had any weapons." No one was in danger from us. We were in mourning. According to de Gonzales, we were standing next to one other. Jonathan shoved me aside as soon as the man fired. My life was saved by him.

"He was murdered by someone who could not endure the sight of two guys admiring each other," de Gonzales continued in a terrifying statement.

Police Reject the Motive for Hate Crimes for the Time Being

San Antonio police have officially declared that, in spite of de Gonzales' statement, their investigation has turned up "no proof whatsoever" that Joss's sexual orientation was a factor in the murder. They did, however, add that the suspect might be charged with more hate crimes if fresh information becomes available.

The department issued a written response saying, "We take such complaints extremely seriously." "We have carefully examined every piece of material that is available. We will charge the suspect in accordance with any additional information that becomes available.

A Native Voice Silenced Too Soon Jonathan Joss was a cultural icon in addition to being a voice actor.

As the long-haired, headband-wearing character on King of the Hill who frequently acted as a satirical mirror to America's treatment of Indigenous people, Joss, a proud Native American who grew up in San Antonio, brought humor, dignity, and quiet disobedience to his portrayal of John Redcorn. Joss had been avidly marketing the program as an August 2025 relaunch in the days leading up to his passing. The show ran from 1997 to 2008.

Joss had shared a happy video of himself collecting autographs at an Austin comic book store at a promotion event for the revival on Instagram the day before he was killed.

He was much more than just an animator. Joss most recently starred in the 2022 series Tulsa King and previously played Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation. His performances, which frequently had caustic wit and subtle strength, spoke loudly despite his subdued off-screen persona.

Before the End, a Series of Tragedies

The pair had already suffered a number of setbacks this year.

Joss lost all of his possessions, including his car, and their three cherished pets perished in a fire that destroyed their house in January. The couple had been gradually reassembling their lives after the tragedy, and a GoFundMe was established to aid with their recovery.

It is incredibly awful to then have to deal with such a terrible and intimate act of violence—just outside the wreckage of that same home.

A Legacy More Valuable Than a Voice Act

The loss of Jonathan Joss is a devastating blow to the larger LGBTQ+ and artistic communities in addition to King of the Hill fans. Joss stood at the intersection, utilizing his talent to carve out representation with comedy, grace, and tenacity in an industry where Native and queer voices continue to strive for room.

He provided important characters a voice. Hatred has now muted his own voice.

Friends, admirers, and other creatives are demanding not just justice but also commemoration as investigations continue. Not only about his death, but also about his life: courageous, giving, and incredibly loved.