Suspect in Murder of Actor Jonathan Joss Released on House Arrest After Posting Bond

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, the 56-year-old man charged with the murder of beloved actor Jonathan Joss, known for his roles in “King of the Hill” and “Parks and Recreation,” has been released on house arrest after posting a $200,000 bond, according to Bexar County court records. The development comes days after the fatal shooting on June 1, 2025, which claimed the life of the 59-year-old actor in south San Antonio.

Joss, celebrated for voicing John Redcorn in the animated series “King of the Hill” and portraying Chief Ken Hotate in “Parks and Recreation,” was shot multiple times outside his former home, which had been destroyed in a January fire. San Antonio police responded to a shooting in progress around 7 p.m. on Dorsey Drive, finding Joss wounded near the roadway.

Despite efforts to save him, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, police said.

Authorities arrested Alvarez, a neighbor of Joss, shortly after the incident. According to TMZ, the two had a history of disputes, with tensions reportedly escalating over time. Joss’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, alleged in a Facebook post that the shooting was a hate crime, claiming Alvarez yelled “violent homophobic slurs” before opening fire. De Gonzales, who was with Joss at the time, said the actor pushed him out of harm’s way, saving his life. “He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” de Gonzales wrote.

However, the San Antonio Police Department stated on social media that their investigation has found “no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.” The department emphasized that it takes such allegations seriously and will charge Alvarez accordingly if new evidence emerges.

Court records indicate Alvarez posted bond on Monday, June 2, and was placed under full house arrest with conditions including random drug testing, a ban on possessing firearms, and no contact with Joss’s family. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for August 19, 2025.

The shooting has drawn widespread attention, with tributes pouring in from Joss’s colleagues and fans. Actor Nick Offerman, who worked with Joss on “Parks and Recreation,” told People magazine, “The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate.” Chris Pratt, another “Parks and Recreation” co-star, shared a remembrance on Instagram Stories.

Joss, of Comanche and White Mountain Apache descent, was a San Antonio native whose career spanned television, film, and video games. He voiced John Redcorn for 12 seasons of “King of the Hill” and had recorded lines for the show’s upcoming Hulu revival, set to premiere in August 2025. His death marks a significant loss for the entertainment industry and his community, where he was known for his advocacy for Native American representation.

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