Friends, loved ones, and fellow actors have gathered to remember actor Jonathan Joss after he was fatally shot June 1, 2025.
Social media users were sent into shock when it was announced that Joss had been killed Sunday, June 1, following a violent altercation with a neighbor. TMZ reported at the time that a heated argument eventually resulted in the neighbor pulling out a gun and shooting the King of the Hill and True Grit actor several times, resulting in his death. He was 59.
Hermano im hurting bad right now…but to see how much you were loved is 🥲❤️ I’ll always cherish our memories together. I pray you’re at peace. You’ll forever be in my heart Jonathan. I love you man always. I’ll catch up to you on that side later 🫂 #JonathanJoss #JohnRedcorn pic.twitter.com/QR2GMmwSRY
— Frankie (@Frankieee_SVT) June 2, 2025
Cast members from NBC’s Parks and Recreation, a show Joss appeared in multiple episodes of throughout the 2010s, are among those mourning. Included are Chris Pratt and Nick Offerman, who both shared statements regarding the actor’s passing, with Pratt posting his message on Instagram.
“Damn. RIP Jonathan,” Pratt said. “Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in [The Magnificent Seven]. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”
Offerman, meanwhile, touched on how the Parks and Recreation cast has reacted to the news with a statement sent to People. He says losing Joss was a topic on their minds all day yesterday, June 2.
“The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken,” Offerman said in his statement. “Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”
Rest in peace, Jonathan Joss pic.twitter.com/ii9JgjKjHZ
— kingofthehill (@kingofthehill) June 3, 2025
Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared a statement on Facebook regarding the incident that led to the actor’s murder. He says he and Joss had been victims of homophobic harassment for two years and that these threats were followed by their former home being burned down. Gonzales says the threats were reported to law enforcement “multiple times and nothing was done.” He adds that the act was carried out by a man who was “yelling violent homophobic slurs” at the couple while they were checking the mail at their former home.
“To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply,” Gonzales said. “He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together.”
A suspect in the investigation, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was taken into custody and charged with murder following the altercation. The San Antonio Police Department X/Twitter account has since shared it “has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.” An investigation is ongoing.
Tributes to Joss continue to fill social media feeds following his passing. While some share memories of brief interactions with the movie and TV star, others are telling stories of his kindness.
Jonathan Joss and I were mutuals (still are) back when he was active here, he was a very kind man! He sent me a signed sexy John Redcorn pic, and threw in a signed Ken Hotate pic just cause that’s the kind of cool-loving, giving person he was. A true light in this dark world. 🕯 https://t.co/TfRhsOoGen pic.twitter.com/YX6abiU4wt
— Ghost Host (@TheGhostHost) June 2, 2025
RIP Jonathan Joss pic.twitter.com/QxaVQA43pm
— adult swim (@adultswim) June 2, 2025
The murder of Jonathan Joss is so deeply sad and infuriating, such a wonderful actor cut down just because of who he was. Impossible to deny that the most hateful have been emboldened to do the very worst, terrible country we have built
— Mr. Chau (@Srirachachau) June 2, 2025
Photo by Ben Cohen/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).