Father's Text to Slain NYT Exec Revealed Days After In-Law Shooting

A father's text message expressing love and concern for his transgender son, Jonathan McKinsey, was sent just 18 days before McKinsey was allegedly killed by his in-laws. The New York Times tech executive was found dead in a California parking lot on September 26, with his in-laws, Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, accused of carrying out the shooting.

William Finney II, McKinsey's father, texted his son on September 8, urging him to visit his family. "Jon, hope everything is going well," Finney wrote. "Hope you can visit us when you have some free time. Mom and Dad love you so much and miss you. Hope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids."

Finney's message came amid a bitter divorce between McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang. Both parties had filed restraining orders against each other. McKinsey, who transitioned from female to male in 2010, had married Jang in 2011. The couple had three children.

Witnesses reported that Chen and Zhang took turns shooting McKinsey in broad daylight at a Dublin, California sports complex. Police arrested and booked them into Alameda County's Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder. They face charges including first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, and weapons offenses.

McKinsey had reportedly experienced significant tension with his in-laws. According to court documents, McKinsey's mother-in-law, Chen, verbally attacked him in 2023. When McKinsey defended one of his children for wearing a dress, Chen allegedly called him a "disgusting queer" and a "pervert," telling him to leave "her house."

McKinsey also alleged in his own restraining order filing that his wife, Jang, had subjected him to abuse, including an instance where she allegedly pushed him to attempt suicide. He claimed Jang told him he should kill himself because "no one would want to be with someone as f–ked up and transgender like me."

Jang had previously filed a restraining order against McKinsey, alleging he "threatened to kill me and my parents." She also described him as having a short temper, stating in a custody filing that "During our marriage, the children and I learned to avoid provoking Jonathan lest he became angry."

Court records also indicate that McKinsey's father-in-law, Zhang, had been physically aggressive. After McKinsey underwent a double mastectomy in 2010, Zhang allegedly punched him in the chest. McKinsey had also been charged with child abuse but was released on the condition that he attend parenting classes.