Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, have been charged with murder for the killing of their transgender son-in-law Jonathan McKinsey, 40, at a park in Dublin, California. Surveillance video shows the couple shooting McKinsey "in concert" as he was walking through the crowded parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds. Zhang allegedly admitted to police that he shot McKinsey, while Chen had a firearm when she was detained by officers shortly after the incident. The case includes allegations of lying in wait and great violence against McKinsey, with prosecutors noting his death occurred amid ongoing contentious legal battles over divorce and custody between him and his wife's parents.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
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.
A California man accused of gunning down his transgender son-in-law allegedly admitted to the shooting after surveillance video captured him and his wife opening fire together in a crowded park, newly filed court documents allege.
uncertain
documents → accuse → park
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were charged Wednesday with murder in the death of their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, 40.
asserted
Zhang → charge → law
Prosecutors also accused the couple of intentionally killing him by "lying in wait."
asserted
Prosecutors → accuse → wait
Several 911 callers reported gunfire at the Dublin Sports Grounds before a Dublin Police Services sergeant arrived and found McKinsey lying face up with multiple gunshot wounds.
asserted
McKinsey → report → wounds
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
asserted
He → pronounce → scene
Witnesses pointed police toward a black Honda Civic leaving the parking lot, leading officers to conduct a high-risk traffic stop nearby, the filings state.
asserted
filings → point → stop
Chen was driving and allegedly had a firearm in her possession when she was detained, while Zhang was in the passenger seat.
uncertain
Zhang → drive → seat
Three witnesses identified Chen and Zhang as the shooters, while surveillance video allegedly captured the couple opening fire "in concert" on McKinsey.
uncertain
couple → identify → McKinsey
Police said the couple opened fire in a crowded park parking lot with "blatant disregard for public safety," even as several children were nearby.
asserted
children → say → safety
Police transported Chen to headquarters after her arrest, where she invoked her Miranda rights during questioning.
asserted
she → transport → questioning
Zhang, however, allegedly spoke with investigators and admitted shooting McKinsey.
uncertain
Zhang → speak → McKinsey
"During a later interview [with] Zhang, he admitted to shooting the victim," the court document states.
asserted
document → admit → victim
Police later searched the Honda and recovered a second firearm that Zhang allegedly admitted using in the shooting.
uncertain
Zhang → search → shooting
Prosecutors also added a special-circumstance allegation accusing Chen and Zhang of intentionally killing McKinsey by lying in wait – essentially alleging an ambush in which the attackers waited for an opportunity to strike.
asserted
attackers → add → opportunity
They also allege both Chen and Zhang opened fire on McKinsey, killing him.
asserted
Chen → allege → him
The complaint alleges the killing involved "great violence" and acts showing a "high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness."
asserted
killing → allege → cruelty
Prosecutors also allege both defendants were armed or used a weapon during the killing.
asserted
defendants → allege → killing
McKinsey's killing came amid a bitter divorce and custody battle with Chen and Zhang's daughter, Candice Jang.
asserted
killing → come → Chen
McKinsey had accused Jang and her parents of years of abuse in court filings before his death.
asserted
McKinsey → accuse → death
The New York Times reported that McKinsey, a transgender man, alleged some of the abuse stemmed from his gender identity.
asserted
some → report → identity
McKinsey accused Chen of directing anti-LGBTQ slurs at him and one of his children and alleged Zhang struck him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery, The Mercury News reported.
asserted
News → accuse → surgery
Jang made competing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse against McKinsey, which he disputed.
asserted
he → make → which
Fox News Digital reviewed court dockets showing McKinsey and Jang were locked in multiple legal battles when McKinsey was killed, including competing domestic violence restraining order cases, a child custody dispute and a pending divorce.
asserted
McKinsey → review → cases
Jang sought a domestic violence restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025, while McKinsey filed his own request two months later.
asserted
McKinsey → seek → request
The competing domestic violence matters were headed toward a three-day hearing in December.
asserted
matters → compete → December
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and Dublin Police Services for additional information.
asserted
Digital → reach → information
McKinsey's divorce attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
asserted
attorney → respond → comment
It was not immediately clear if the suspects had attorneys representing them.
asserted
suspects → have → them
The Aporia
