Jonathan Joss, known for roles on “King of the Hill” and “Parks and Recreation,” was allegedly killed by his neighbor on Sunday in an attack the victim’s husband says was motivated by anti-gay sentiment.
According to the San Antonio Police Department and eyewitnesses who spoke with TMZ, the 59-year-old was shot during a heated argument with the neighbor, Sigfredo Alvarez-Cega.
The confrontation turned bloody when Alvarez-Cega pulled out a gun and shot several bullets at the actor before driving off in a car. Officers received a call about the shooting as well as a description of the vehicle.
Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, released a statement detailing what fueled the altercation, claiming homophobia as the root cause.
Gonzales says the couple went to check the mail at the site of their former home, which had previously burned down. He says a man “yelling violent homophobic slurs at us” approached them and “raised a gun from his lap and fired.”
Gonzales also said they were “harassed regularly” by the “openly homophobic” neighbor.
“He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men living each other,” Gonzales wrote in a Facebook post. “I was with him when he ed. I told him how much he was loved.”
He also said Joss was shot in front of him and saved his life by protecting him when the gunman started shooting.
Alvarez-Cega was later found one block from the house and taken into custody.
Paramedics rushed to the scene to provide medical assistance to save Joss’ life, but by the time they arrived it was too late. The 59-year-old actor was pronounced dead on the scene.
Joss was best known as the voice of John Redcorn in “King of the Hill” and his role as Chief Ken Hotate in “Parks and Recreation.” He also had television roles in “Ray Donovan,” The Magnificent Seven,” “True Grit” and “Tulsa King.”
Alvarez-Cega was charged with murder and his bond has been set at $200K.
