New Details Emerge in the Death of Jonathan Joss

New information is surfacing following the tragic shooting death of King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, June 1.

Hours after news broke, Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared a personal statement on Joss’ Facebook page, offering a firsthand account of the incident and alleging the fatal shooting was driven by homophobia.

“My husband Jonathan Joss and I were involved in a shooting while checking the mail at the site of our former home,” Gonzales wrote. “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. We reported these threats to law enforcement multiple times and nothing was done.”

He added that the couple faced regular harassment from individuals who “made it clear they did not accept our relationship,” much of which, he said, “was openly homophobic.”

The alleged assailant, a former neighbor, reportedly confronted the couple at the site of their destroyed home when the shooting occurred. Joss was pronounced dead at the scene.

Husband Shares Harrowing Details of Jonathan Joss' Final Moments

In a deeply emotional Facebook post, Tristan Kern de Gonzales—husband of late King of the Hill actor Jonathan Joss—shared new details about the moments leading up to Joss’ fatal shooting on June 1 in San Antonio, Texas.

According to the post, the couple was visiting the site of their former home—destroyed by fire months earlier—when they discovered the remains of one of their dogs, deliberately left out in the open. Gonzales said the sight caused them “severe emotional distress.”

“We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw,” he wrote. “While we were doing this, a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired.”

Gonzales said neither he nor Joss was armed or behaving aggressively. “We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”

Local authorities have not yet confirmed specific details of the incident or whether hate crime charges will be pursued. The investigation is ongoing.

Gonzales, who married Joss on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, reflected on their bond with heartfelt words. “Jonathan gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get,” he wrote. Calling themselves “newlyweds,” he shared that they had been “planning our future” together.

Gonzales Honors Jonathan Joss, Calls for Justice Amid Ongoing Investigation

In a moving tribute posted to Jonathan Joss’ Facebook page, his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, described the devastating final moments they shared and called attention to what he believes was a hate-motivated killing.

“He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” Gonzales wrote. “I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved. To everyone who supported him—his fans, his friends—know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together.”

The post concluded with a vow: “Jonathan saved my life. I will carry that forward. I will protect what he built.”

In a follow-up message, Gonzales noted he has “absolutely no plans yet” for a memorial service but promised to keep supporters informed. He also addressed the GoFundMe campaign that had previously been set up after their home burned down.

“There’s not a need to donate,” he wrote. “But I want everyone to remember the joy and love Jonathan has brought and will continue to bring forever. I have my essentials covered, and our family in San Antonio is taking care of me until I get back to South Carolina. Instead of donating, Jonathan and I would both rather you spread the word about the consistent injustice done to him, to us, and to our dogs. We had so many beautiful plans for the future.”

Despite Gonzales’ claims that the killing was motivated by homophobia, the San Antonio Police Department issued a statement saying the investigation is ongoing. In a post on X, the department confirmed it is “currently investigating the murder of Mr. Jonathan Joss,” and looking into whether it was a hate crime. However, they noted, “So far, we have found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.”