San Antonio Police Chief Acknowledges LGBTQ+ Community Concerns in Jonathan Joss Shooting Case
Less than a week after the San Antonio Police Department initially denied any signs of homophobia in the shooting death of former actor Jonathan Joss, the city's police chief admitted that the statement was premature. Chief William McManus acknowledged the LGBTQ+ community's concerns and expressed regret for the hasty conclusion.
Jonathan Joss and his husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales visited their burned-down home in San Antonio, where they found the skull of one of their dogs placed on the ground. This distressing discovery led to a fatal confrontation with their neighbor Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, resulting in Joss' death.
Despite initial police statements dismissing the incident as unrelated to Joss' sexual orientation, Kern de Gonzales claimed that Ceja made homophobic remarks as Joss lay dying. Ceja confessed to the shooting and was released on bond pending trial, much to the dismay of Kern de Gonzales, who criticized the police for not taking previous complaints about Ceja seriously.
Jonathan Joss, known for his roles in King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation, was remembered by his husband as a martyr and legend in the LGBT+ and Native American communities. Ceja is set to appear in court in August, with his lawyer declining to comment on the case.