Topline: Two 77-year-old in-laws face murder charges and a lying-in-wait allegation after a New York Times engineering director was shot dead during a divorce and custody dispute.
Published: October 3, 2026 7:04 am ET
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From left: Jonathan McKinsey, Shouyong Zhang, and Shili Chen (via SFist / Dublin Police)
DUBLIN, CA — Jonathan McKinsey’s parents-in-law have been charged with murder after the 40-year-old New York Times engineering director was shot dead in a public park parking lot during a divorce and custody dispute with their daughter.
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were charged September 30. Prosecutors allege they planned the September 26 attack and acted together, citing witnesses and surveillance footage, KQED reported. The case includes firearm allegations and a lying-in-wait special circumstance.
A police sergeant found McKinsey with multiple gunshot wounds near the Dublin Sports Grounds shortly after 3 p.m. He died at the scene. Witnesses directed officers toward the suspects as they drove through the parking lot in a black Honda Civic, according to court documents cited by KQED. Chen was driving.
Officers recovered a gun from Chen and another from the car. Zhang admitted using the second weapon to shoot McKinsey, prosecutors alleged, according to SFGATE.
McKinsey led engineering for the Times’ games department and joined the company in 2023. He and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, had three children and were living separately, ABC News reported.
Jang obtained a domestic violence protection order in October 2025 after McKinsey’s arrest for allegedly striking their son. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor child-abuse charges. The second allegation involved leaving their 2-year-old home alone; McKinsey said Jang left without telling him the child was upstairs, according to The Associated Press. He was out on bail, had been ordered to complete 12 parenting classes and was seeking mental health diversion when he died.
In December 2025, McKinsey filed for divorce and sought a restraining order. He alleged that Jang and her parents abused him and directed anti-LGBTQ slurs at him. McKinsey was transgender. Jang denied his allegations in court filings, ABC News reported. Investigators had not disclosed a motive in that reporting.
At their September 30 appearance, Chen said she could not afford counsel; Judge Diane Meier arranged for a public defender and continued arraignment to October 1. Zhang was represented by public defender Jennie Otis, SFGATE reported. KQED reported that both were held at Santa Rita Jail and could face life without parole if convicted.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Jonathan McKinsey’s In-Laws Charged With Murder in Dublin Park Shooting
Two 77-year-old in-laws face murder charges and a lying-in-wait allegation after a New York Times engineering director was shot dead during a divorce and custody dispute.
By Silvia Torres
Published: October 3, 2026 7:04 am ET
From left: Jonathan McKinsey, Shouyong Zhang, and Shili Chen (via SFist / Dublin Police)
DUBLIN, CA — Jonathan McKinsey’s parents-in-law have been charged with murder after the 40-year-old New York Times engineering director was shot dead in a public park parking lot during a divorce and custody dispute with their daughter.
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were charged September 30. Prosecutors allege they planned the September 26 attack and acted together, citing witnesses and surveillance footage, KQED reported. The case includes firearm allegations and a lying-in-wait special circumstance.
A police sergeant found McKinsey with multiple gunshot wounds near the Dublin Sports Grounds shortly after 3 p.m. He died at the scene. Witnesses directed officers toward the suspects as they drove through the parking lot in a black Honda Civic, according to court documents cited by KQED. Chen was driving.
Officers recovered a gun from Chen and another from the car. Zhang admitted using the second weapon to shoot McKinsey, prosecutors alleged, according to SFGATE.
McKinsey led engineering for the Times’ games department and joined the company in 2023. He and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, had three children and were living separately, ABC News reported.
Jang obtained a domestic violence protection order in October 2025 after McKinsey’s arrest for allegedly striking their son. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor child-abuse charges. The second allegation involved leaving their 2-year-old home alone; McKinsey said Jang left without telling him the child was upstairs, according to The Associated Press. He was out on bail, had been ordered to complete 12 parenting classes and was seeking mental health diversion when he died.
In December 2025, McKinsey filed for divorce and sought a restraining order. He alleged that Jang and her parents abused him and directed anti-LGBTQ slurs at him. McKinsey was transgender. Jang denied his allegations in court filings, ABC News reported. Investigators had not disclosed a motive in that reporting.
At their September 30 appearance, Chen said she could not afford counsel; Judge Diane Meier arranged for a public defender and continued arraignment to October 1. Zhang was represented by public defender Jennie Otis, SFGATE reported. KQED reported that both were held at Santa Rita Jail and could face life without parole if convicted.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Jonathan McKinsey’s In-Laws Charged With Murder in Dublin Park Shooting
Two 77-year-old in-laws face murder charges and a lying-in-wait allegation after a New York Times engineering director was shot dead during a divorce and custody dispute.
By Silvia Torres
Published: October 3, 2026 7:04 am ET
From left: Jonathan McKinsey, Shouyong Zhang, and Shili Chen (via SFist / Dublin Police)
DUBLIN, CA — Jonathan McKinsey’s parents-in-law have been charged with murder after the 40-year-old New York Times engineering director was shot dead in a public park parking lot during a divorce and custody dispute with their daughter.
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were charged September 30. Prosecutors allege they planned the September 26 attack and acted together, citing witnesses and surveillance footage, KQED reported. The case includes firearm allegations and a lying-in-wait special circumstance.
A police sergeant found McKinsey with multiple gunshot wounds near the Dublin Sports Grounds shortly after 3 p.m. He died at the scene. Witnesses directed officers toward the suspects as they drove through the parking lot in a black Honda Civic, according to court documents cited by KQED. Chen was driving.
Officers recovered a gun from Chen and another from the car. Zhang admitted using the second weapon to shoot McKinsey, prosecutors alleged, according to SFGATE.
McKinsey led engineering for the Times’ games department and joined the company in 2023. He and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, had three children and were living separately, ABC News reported.
Jang obtained a domestic violence protection order in October 2025 after McKinsey’s arrest for allegedly striking their son. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor child-abuse charges. The second allegation involved leaving their 2-year-old home alone; McKinsey said Jang left without telling him the child was upstairs, according to The Associated Press. He was out on bail, had been ordered to complete 12 parenting classes and was seeking mental health diversion when he died.
In December 2025, McKinsey filed for divorce and sought a restraining order. He alleged that Jang and her parents abused him and directed anti-LGBTQ slurs at him. McKinsey was transgender. Jang denied his allegations in court filings, ABC News reported. Investigators had not disclosed a motive in that reporting.
At their September 30 appearance, Chen said she could not afford counsel; Judge Diane Meier arranged for a public defender and continued arraignment to October 1. Zhang was represented by public defender Jennie Otis, SFGATE reported. KQED reported that both were held at Santa Rita Jail and could face life without parole if convicted.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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