Particle.news
Download on the App Store
35 ARTICLES
·
12h ago

San Antonio Police Reopen Inquiry Into Possible Hate Crime in Jonathan Joss Killing

Chief McManus admitted the department jumped the gun in denying a bias motive, with detectives expanding the probe to include Joss’s sexual orientation, a January house fire and long-running neighborhood disputes.

In this handout photo released by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, suspect Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez poses for a booking photo on June 2, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
Image
Image
In this image taken from video, Jonathan Joss, an actor best known for his voice work on the animated television series King of the Hill, talks to reporters following a fire at his San Antonio, Texas, home on Jan. 23. Joss was fatally shot earlier this week, and police are investigating whether homophobia played a role in his killing.

Overview

  • Chief William McManus acknowledged on June 5 that an SAPD statement ruling out a bias motive was issued too hastily.
  • Detectives are investigating whether Joss’s sexual orientation influenced the shooting after his husband reported that the neighbor shouted homophobic slurs.
  • Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez is charged with Joss’s murder and was freed on a $200,000 bond as police continue to build their case.
  • The probe has broadened to examine a January fire that destroyed Joss’s home and more than 70 disturbance calls between the actor and neighbors over two years.
  • Local advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and Pride San Antonio, have pressed for a full investigation and participated in an SAPD community forum on LGBTQ+ safety.