Neighbor’s Grudge Turns Deadly for ‘King of the Hill’ Star Jonathan Joss
You might want to brace yourself, because this one’s grim: Jonathan Joss, best known for voicing Native American activist John Redcorn on King of the Hill, was allegedly shot and killed by his next-door neighbor, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports. Police say the fatal incident occurred late last Friday in North Hollywood after an ongoing property dispute turned violent. If you’re wondering how two adults end up in a deadly Mexican standoff over a fence line, you’re not alone—and I’m here to spell it out for those who apparently need the details.
TMZ first broke the story, revealing that deputies responded to 911 calls around 10:30 p.m. and found Joss suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to People magazine, the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Michael D. Collins (not a household name, yet), was already in custody when officers secured the perimeter. Collins remains behind bars on suspicion of murder with bail set at $1 million.
Before you ask what drove a neighborly spat to lethal violence, public records (LA County Property Appraiser) and witness statements hint at a months-long feud over shared driveways, stray pets, and alleged harassment. Witnesses told Variety that Joss had filed noise complaints in April, and Collins had filed counter-complaints in May—an escalating pattern that, tragically, neither side de-escalated.
Friends and co-stars have been flooding social media with tributes, from Hank Hill fans mourning a beloved performance to colleagues praising Joss’s community theater roots in San Antonio. His brother, Mark Joss, released a brief statement through his lawyer, calling Jonathan “a gentle soul” and urging calm while the investigation continues.
Sheriff’s investigators are now digging into ballistic reports and interviewing neighbors who heard the gunshots. They confirm that Collins had no prior felonies but say that domestic disturbances were reported at his address as recently as last summer.
So what’s next? Expect booking documents and body-cam footage to surface as the case moves to arraignment. Will Collins face additional charges? And could this point to a wider trend of neighborhood disputes escalating into violence? Stay tuned for updates—you’ll want to follow this one.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People Magazine, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
