San Antonio Police Take Back Statement that Joss Murder was Not a Hate Crime

| 0

Days after San Antonio Police Department announced “no evidence whatsoever” of homophobia in the 1 June 2025 murder of actor Jonathan Joss, SAPD Chief William McManus took back that statement.

Extensive media coverage and outrage from citizens pushed the change of stance. It is common for police to brush off complaints from LGBTQ+ people about threats, as SAPD did for years in this case, and common to ignore any hate crime element in murders of LGBTQ+ people.

McManus said, “We shouldn’t have done it. It was way too soon, before we had any real information, and I will own that.”

“We understand that many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling anxious and concerned. 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.”

Click here for more details.