Jonathan McKinsey, an executive at The New York Times, was shot and killed by his wife's parents, Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, in a Northern California parking lot on Saturday. McKinsey had been involved in a contentious custody battle with his wife, Candice Jang, following allegations of child abuse. Lovell Garner, McKinsey’s cousin, described him as kind-hearted and intelligent but noted the family's shock at the extreme measures taken by Jang's parents. Chen and Zhang are charged with first-degree murder among other serious crimes.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jonathan McKinsey, 40, the head of engineering for games player experience at New York Times, was shot dead in the parking lot of Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday around 3pm. Eyewitnesses reported seeing two masked assailants, identified as his elderly Chinese in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, take turns shooting McKinsey. The couple were arrested shortly after by a passing police officer.
McKinsey had been working at the New York Times since 2023. Police are investigating potential motives including allegations of child abuse and domestic violence against his wife, Candice Jang. Court documents revealed conflicts over being transgender and McKinsey's alleged mistreatment of their children. The elderly couple faces charges of murder, felony conspiracy, child endangerment, and dangerously firing a gun.
The incident shocked the local community due to its brutality in broad daylight near families with children. McKinsey’s body was found lying in the parking lot, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. An arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
Written for “NYT Exec Shot By In-Laws” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 29 other(s) covering the same event.
The mortified family of the New York Times exec gunned down by his in-laws have addressed the terrible situation he was in with his wife’s family around the time of his death.
asserted
he → mortify → death
Jonathan McKinsey was murdered after his elderly in-laws, Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, allegedly took turns shooting him in a Northern California parking lot Saturday.
uncertain
laws → murder → lot
The brutal alleged shooting happened as McKinsey and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, were locked in a nasty custody fight.
asserted
McKinsey → happen → fight
Lovell Garner, McKinsey’s cousin, spoke to The California Post about the turbulent time in the family.
asserted
Garner → speak → family
He said it was apparent that the wife’s family had enough, and turned to drastic measures.
asserted
family → say → measures
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asserted
Sign → sign → California
“Well, it’s all still pretty fresh for me still,” Garner said.
asserted
Garner → ’ → me
“So far, everyone in my immediate family is completely shocked.
asserted
everyone → shock → family
It seems obvious that they were done with him since they killed him.
asserted
they → seem → him
Not sure what would make them do something that extreme.”
asserted
them → make → something
Garner said he spoke to McKinsey a year ago after losing contact with him for several years.
asserted
he → say → years
He had heard McKinsey had hit a rough spot and reached out to talk with him about life and what he was working on.
asserted
he → hear → what
He said he didn’t mention his wife and kids or the custody battle during their chat.
asserted
he → say → chat
Garner described McKinsey as a “very smart” and an “outgoing” person.
asserted
Garner → describe → smart
I remember more of her than him,” referring to McKinsey before he transitioned from male to female.
asserted
he → remember → female
McKinsey, formerly Dawn Finney, transitioned in 2010 and married Jang in Harris County, Texas, in 2011.
asserted
McKinsey → transition → 2011
Little is known about Jang other than that she is a mother to three kids, all under the age of 10.
McKinsey’s strained marriage with Jang came to a boil when Alameda County prosecutors charged him with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse after his wife reported an incident where he allegedly hit their six-year-old son in the face with an open hand.
uncertain
he → know → hand
McKinsey pleaded not guilty to both crimes and was released from jail on the condition that he take parenting classes.
asserted
he → plead → classes
Jang also alleged McKinsey threatened “to kill me and my parents” in a restraining order filed last year.
asserted
McKinsey → allege → order
McKinsey filed a restraining order of his own against Jang, alleging Jang abused him emotionally and physically, including telling him he should kill himself because “no one would want to be with someone as f–ked up and transgender like you.”
asserted
one → file → you
Garner said it appeared McKinsey’s family otherwise was supportive of his decision to transition.
asserted
family → say → decision
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The elderly couple is facing serious charges, including first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, dangerously firing a gun, and child endangerment that could’ve caused major injury or death.
uncertain
that → download → injury
Cops arrested and booked the pair in Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder.
asserted
Cops → arrest → murder
Chen and Zhang had a strained history with McKinsey, according to court documents.
uncertain
Chen → have → documents
Chen visited McKinsey and his wife to watch their children in 2023, a restraining order filed by McKinsey against Jang said.
asserted
order → visit → Jang
During the visit, she noticed one of McKinsey’s sons, Wyatt, had begun asking to wear his sister Alexis’ dresses, a “phase” he was going through, McKinsey said, according to the records.
uncertain
McKinsey → notice → records
She then began allegedly berating him for the behavior, calling the young child a “disgusting queer” and a “pervert.”
uncertain
She → begin → child
Chen also allegedly hit McKinsey’s young son in the back of the head when he asked.
uncertain
he → hit → head
When McKinsey begged her to stop, Chen turned her ire to the New York Times employee, calling him the same names.
asserted
Chen → beg → names
“She blamed me for Wyatt wanting to wear his sister’s dresses and told me to get out of ‘her house’ even though we were in the home owned by Candice and I,” McKinsey wrote.
asserted
McKinsey → blame → Candice
In a separate incident, the father-in-law allegedly punched McKinsey in the chest after he got a double mastectomy.
uncertain
he → punch → mastectomy
Garner is prioritizing the welfare of his remaining family, including the welfare of his uncle, McKinsey’s father, William Finney II.
asserted
Garner → prioritize → uncle
Finney, he said, is currently in Taiwan with McKinsey’s mother.
asserted
he → say → mother
Finney posted a chilling message on McKinsey’s Facebook page a few weeks before his death, imploring his son to come back home.
asserted
Finney → post → son
“Jon, hope everything is going well,” Finney wrote on Sept. 8.
asserted
Finney → hope → Sept.
“Hope you can visit us when you have some free time.
asserted
you → hope → time
Mom and Dad love you so much and miss you.
asserted
Mom → love → you
Hope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids.”
asserted
everything → hope → you
Jang’s parents allegedly killed McKinsey 18 days later.
uncertain
parents → kill → McKinsey
When asked if he believed outright that the in-laws allegedly killed McKinsey to support his wife’s custody bid, Garner had a definitive answer.
uncertain
Garner → ask → answer
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
