Nick Offerman Opens Up on ‘Parks and Recreation’ Cast’s Heartbreak Over Jonathan Joss’ Tragic Death

The “Parks and Recreation” family is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Jonathan Joss, the beloved actor who was fatally shot at his home in San Antonio, Texas on June 1.

Nick Offerman, who starred alongside Joss on the hit sitcom, shared how the cast has been coping with the devastating news. “We’ve been texting together all day,” Offerman told PEOPLE on June 2. “We’re just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy, and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. It’s a terrible tragedy.”

Joss played the memorable role of Chief Ken Hotate, leader of the Native American Wamapoke Tribe, appearing in the series over five years alongside stars like Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Adam Scott.

The Tragic Incident

On the evening of June 1, police responded to reports of a shooting at Joss’ property around 7 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Joss lying near the roadway. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities arrested a suspect shortly after the incident — 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam, who is confirmed to be Joss’ neighbor. Cejam was booked on a murder charge, and the investigation remains ongoing.

A Husband’s Heartbreaking Account

Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared a deeply personal and painful account of the events on Joss’ official Facebook page. Gonzales revealed they had endured more than two years of harassment, much of it homophobic, culminating in their home burning down three months ago — a tragedy he says went largely ignored by local law enforcement.

On that tragic night, Gonzales and Joss had returned to their property to retrieve their mail when they discovered the skull of one of their dogs left out in the open. “We began yelling and crying in response to the pain of what we saw,” Gonzales wrote.

During this emotional moment, Gonzales says a man approached them, hurling violent homophobic slurs before pulling a gun and firing. “Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side,” he explained. “When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”

Remembering Jonathan Joss

The couple had recently married on Valentine’s Day this year, looking forward to building their life together as newlyweds. Gonzales described Joss as a man who gave “more love in our time together than most people ever get.”

“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 fans, friends, and everyone who supported Joss, Gonzales emphasized how deeply the actor valued them, “He saw you as family.”

Now, his husband’s focus is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life they shared. “Jonathan saved my life. I will carry that forward. I will protect what he built.”

Jonathan Joss will be remembered not only for his memorable roles but also for his kindness, love, and the strength he showed even in the darkest moments. His “Parks and Recreation” family and countless fans will carry his memory forward with heavy hearts.