Jonathan Joss appears on an episode of Parks and Recreation. Credit: Netflix
The husband of Jonathan Joss, the San Antonio TV and film actor shot and killed Sunday, posted an account of the incident on social media Monday, alleging the incident was the culmination of years harassment the pair received from people in the neighborhood where Joss owned a home.

Joss, known for roles in the TV shows King Of The Hill and Parks and Recreation, was shot and killed Sunday at a South Side residence he inherited from his family. Police later arrested neighbor Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez and charged him with murder, according to multiple media reports.

Even so, in an emailed statement, a San Antonio Police Department spokesperson said officers found “no evidence” that the slaying was a result of Joss’ sexual orientation. 

“We take such allegations very seriously and have thoroughly reviewed all available information,” SAPD’s statement continued. “Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly.”

Tristan Kern de Gonzales, who married Joss in February, wrote in a Facebook post that the couple returned to the house Sunday to check their mail. The dwelling sustained substantial damage in a January fire the actor said at the time might have been caused by propane heaters inside. The couple’s pet dogs perished in blaze.

“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,” Kern de Gonzales wrote. “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.”

In the Facebook post, Kern de Gonzales said that as the couple checked their mail Sunday, they realized the skull of one of their dogs and its harness had been put in clear view.

“This caused both of us severe emotional distress,” Kern de Gonzales wrote. “We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw.”

A man approached and started yelling “violent homophobic slurs,” Kern de Gonzales continued in the post, adding that neither he nor Joss was armed. 

“He then raised a gun from his lap and fired,” Kern de Gonzales wrote. “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.”

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...