Chris Pratt Honors Late Co-Star Jonathan Joss
Chris Pratt has expressed his condolences following the heartbreaking loss of his former co-star from Parks and Recreation, Jonathan Joss, who died tragically at the age of 59 this past Sunday.
Joss was fatally shot in an incident on his property in San Antonio, reportedly during a confrontation with his neighbor, Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam. Joss’ spouse has indicated that this violent act was the result of a prolonged period of homophobic harassment.
Upon hearing the news on Monday, 45-year-old Pratt shared a tribute on his Instagram Story, posting an obituary image of Joss portraying Chief Ken Hotate across five seasons on Parks and Recreation. Pratt, who also collaborated with Joss on the 2016 movie The Magnificent Seven, expressed his sadness, writing, “Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,” and added, “Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”
Co-stars Mourn the Loss of Jonathan Joss
Nick Offerman, another notable from Parks and Recreation, spoke to PEOPLE about the collective grief of the cast, stating, “The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken.” He added, “Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”
Joss, who was also a star on King of the Hill, was shot shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the police, Joss was pronounced dead upon the arrival of paramedics.
Cejam, aged 56, fled the scene in a vehicle but was apprehended shortly after and has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The investigation into Joss’ murder continues, but Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, has described the shooting as the climax of a long-term campaign of homophobic harassment.
In a statement posted on Joss’ Facebook page, Gonzales revealed their home had burnt down three months earlier following “over two years of threats,” which he claimed were ignored by the authorities. “Throughout that time we were harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship,” he explained, noting that much of the harassment was overtly homophobic.
Gonzales recounted the events of that fateful Sunday, saying they had visited their property to collect their mail when they encountered the remains of one of their dogs, an act meant to cause them distress. He described how they reacted with tears and shouts, which were met by a man who hurled homophobic insults at them and then shot at them. “Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life. … He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” Gonzales detailed.
“I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved,” Gonzales shared. “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.”
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