Jonathan Joss’s Husband Claims Homophobia in Fatal Texas Shooting
This saga reads like someone thought combining homophobia and gunfire was an inspiring screenplay—too bad it ended with real bullets. Jonathan Joss’s husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, released a searing statement on June 2 that pulls no punches. According to TMZ and a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office report, the incident unfolded on May 30 at a San Antonio bar when an assailant allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs before firing three shots into the gathered group. De Gonzales says one round grazed his forearm while a companion collapsed fatally beside him. If you were hoping for a less absurd twist, you’ll be disappointed—he’s calling for hate-crime charges and demanding accountability from local law enforcement.
In his statement to TMZ, de Gonzales describes the moment he realized prejudice isn’t confined to textbooks. “I felt a sting in my left arm and heard the word ‘faggot’ echo behind me,” he said, detailing how the shooter, identified in public arrest records as 28-year-old Tyler Mitchell, approached their table with a hateful grin. People magazine notes that authorities have since charged Mitchell with manslaughter and are reviewing a hate-crime enhancement, which could substantially increase his sentence. Police photos from the scene show shattered glass, bullet fragments and a single overturned chair—just the kind of minimalist décor you’d expect at a hate rally, minus the ice sculptures.
While de Gonzales’s husband, Jonathan Joss—best known for voicing Clubber Lang in King of the Hill—has remained publicly silent, insiders tell TMZ he’s been at Tristan’s side since the night of the shooting, offering support and sharing bruise photographs with investigators. Public records confirm the couple married in 2023, making their union one of Hollywood’s lower-key but wholly devoted partnerships. The sheriff’s office has praised de Gonzales’s cooperation, but local LGBTQ+ advocates argue that this incident underscores Texas’s patchy approach to hate-crime enforcement. One spokesperson for Equality Texas told People, “We’ve seen too many of these statements get tucked away in a drawer. It’s time for prosecutors to treat homophobia like any other violent offense.”
If you thought firing off bullets was a surefire way to avoid nuance, think again—de Gonzales’s statement comes backed by medical reports, eyewitness testimony and cell-phone videos that TMZ obtained exclusively. His closing note managed to blend heartbreak with a call for justice: “We’re not asking for special treatment—just equal protection under the law,” he said, signing off with the resolve of someone who’s already been through the worst. Stay tuned for the inevitable legal fireworks and subpar lawyers trying to spin prejudice into “self-defense.” Because apparently, our judicial system needs new material for its next dark comedy.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
