Northern California couple charged with taking turns killing NY Times executive amid bitter family law dispute

Nate Gartrell, Harry Harris and Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News on Sep 30, 2026

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DUBLIN, Calif. — A married man and woman in their 70s have been charged with murder, days after they allegedly shot and killed their son-in-law at a local parking lot, taking turns firing at the victim, who was embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the suspects’ daughter.

Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were charged with murder and enhancements alleging intentional discharge of a firearm, which carries at least 40 years to life in prison. Prosecutors allege the couple killed Jonathan McKinsey, 40, on Saturday afternoon at the Dublin Sports Grounds in the 6700 block of Dublin Boulevard.

McKinsey, a New York Times games executive, was out of custody with pending charges alleging he struck one of three children he shared with Zhang and Chen’s daughter. In the bitter ongoing legal dispute, McKinsey and his wife accused one another of traumatizing and abusing each other and the children. McKinsey, who was transgender, alleged that Chen also directed anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at him and the child, and allegedly referring to McKinsey as “disgusting.”

The two were supposed to be in court Friday for a status conference. Instead, Zhang and Chen are set to appear Wednesday for their arraignment hearing in a Dublin courthouse, and are being held at Santa Rita Jail without bail. It is unclear whether either of them have retained an attorney.

Police say they solved the homicide — the city’s first of the year — within minutes. They haven’t said what steps, if any, the couple took to attempt to get away with it.

The shooting occurred a little after 3 p.m. on Saturday and was witnessed by several peoplein the area, at least one of whom recorded video of its aftermath.

The prosecution of McKinsey was ongoing when he was killed. The Alameda County District Attorney’s office filed misdemeanor charges of corporal injury to a child and child endangerment, with plans to allow McKinsey to enter into a mental health diversion program. In court filings, McKinsey’s ex-wife alleged that his abuse extended far beyond the one alleged crime, and that McKinsey “is simply prone to domestic violence and child abuse.”

On Oct. 12, 2025, his ex-wrote, “I hear Mr. McKinsey yelling,” followed by “one of the most terrifying things in my life.” It was the sound of their young son, screaming and panicked. The woman said she ran to help and found him “curled up, quivering, hiding in the hallway, and crying hysterically.”

In his filing, McKinsey accused his ex of being abusive during medical procedures related to his transition. In one instance, he alleged she tried to pull medical tubes from his body shortly after a procedure. McKinsey also alleged the woman’s father, who was not named in the filing, punched him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery.

McKinsey’s lawyer in the family law case, Andrea Yah, issued a statement saying she was “deeply saddened” by the death and is “frustrated” by “one-sided” coverage in the media “reported solely for sensational headlines.”

“This is a true tragedy, particularly for the three children now left without a father,” Yah said, later adding. “This was a complicated case and the public record and filings in the dissolution and temporary restraining order matters reflect that complexity. I trust that our justice system will hold those responsible for Mr. McKinsey’s senseless death accountable.”