Police Chief Regrets Statement Denying Jonathan Joss' Murder Was a Hate Crime: 'It Was Way Too Soon'

Authorities are backpedaling on their initial statement regarding Jonathan Joss’ murder.

During a press conference on Thursday, June 5, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus offered an update on the case and responded to public backlash after the department said that their “investigation has found no evidence whatsoever” that Joss’ June 1 shooting death was a hate crime.

“That was way, way, way premature,” he admitted. “Shouldn’t have done it. It was way too soon before we had any real information, and I will own that and simply say, again, that we shouldn’t have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued.”

“We understand that many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling anxious and concerned,” McManus continued. “A lot of it has to do with that premature statement that we released, and again, I own that shouldn’t have done it. The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic and most, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community.”

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On June 3, just two days after the Parks and Recreation alum was killed, the SAPD said that they “thoroughly reviewed all available information” and determined that they didn’t have reason to believe his death “was related to his sexual orientation.” 

However, Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, claimed in a Facebook post that there was a history of “harassment” toward them from neighbors and alleged that the shooter was “yelling violent homophobic slurs” at the scene.

Acknowledging those specific allegations, McManus explained that “hate crimes are not separate charges” in Texas, but rather “enhancements” to existing charges.

“We gather the facts and we give those facts to the District Attorney’s office, and then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing,” he said. “Our homicide detectives are continuing to pursue every lead in this case to ensure that we understand the full picture of what led up to the senseless murder of Mr. Joss.”

In recognition of the LGBTQ+ community and Pride Month, McManus said that the SAPD will be holding a community forum that night at a local center. “Please know that your safety and trust matter deeply to us,” he noted.

He also addressed Gonzales’ claims that a fire, which burned down the house he and Joss lived in on the property where the shooting took place, was started intentionally. McManus revealed that “the investigation is still active” and law enforcement is “working closely” with the fire department’s arson investigators to look into a possible connection between cases.

Additionally, McManus confirmed that police have received “approximately 70 calls over the past two years” from both Joss and his neighbors “involving various neighborhood-type disturbances.”

“Our safe unit, our mental health units, had extensive engagements with Mr. Joss, making repeated efforts to mediate conflicts and connect him with services that he may have needed at the time,” he added, although he was being “cautious” about “releasing too much information that could negatively affect the upcoming legal process.”

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PEOPLE previously reported that officers responded to a shooting in progress in the Southside of San Antonio at around 7 p.m. on June 1. When they arrived, they found Joss lying “near the roadway” with gunshot wounds from a rifle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

56-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, who PEOPLE can confirm was a neighbor of the King of the Hill star, allegedly admitted that he “intentionally and knowingly discharged a weapon” at Joss, stating, “I shot him,” while detained.

He has been charged with first-degree murder and was released from police custody under full house arrest on $200,000 bond on June 2.