Grandmother Accused of Killing Son-in-Law Claims Husband Fired Fatal Shots

Shili Chen, 77, accused of murdering her transgender New York Times executive son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, is seeking release on bail by claiming her husband, Shouyong Zhang, was solely responsible for the September shooting. According to a bail filing by Chen’s attorney, Curtis Briggs, Zhang was “fixated” on McKinsey and fired the fatal shots.

Briggs asserts that Chen did not fire first, but instead watched as her husband discharged his weapon. He claims Chen then exited their vehicle to protect her husband, whom she believed was being assaulted by McKinsey. Following Zhang’s shots, Chen reportedly fired into McKinsey's motionless body as her husband clutched his abdomen in apparent pain.

The couple's presence at the Dublin Sports Grounds was at Zhang's behest, according to the filing. Briggs stated that Zhang instructed Chen to bring a gun, purportedly for a trip to the shooting range.

The defense documents detail Zhang's alleged obsession with McKinsey, whom he described to police as having a “dark soul.” Zhang reportedly believed McKinsey intended to kill him and blamed him for two separate incidents in which he was struck by cars while cycling in the months leading up to the shooting. Zhang told police, "I truly do believe the reason he wants to set me up and harm/kill me because without me, he will have full freedom."

Investigators found evidence in the couple's apartment that they believe indicates Zhang's intent to target McKinsey. A search revealed four photo albums, nitrile gloves matching those found at the crime scene, and an empty Sig Sauer pistol box. Some photographs of McKinsey in the albums had his face cut out, and one image had marks drawn on his chest and eye, potentially aligning with the locations of the fatal shots.

Briggs also noted that Zhang exhibited signs of advanced dementia before the killing. He argued for Chen's release, citing her poor health, which includes high blood pressure and diabetes, and concerns about conditions at Santa Rita Jail, where five individuals have reportedly died this year. "For Ms. Chen, detention before trial may become a death sentence without a conviction," Briggs wrote.

Chen's defense contends she poses a minimal flight risk due to a lack of financial resources and has offered home detention with GPS monitoring. She is expected to reside with her daughter, Candice Jang, who was reportedly involved in contentious divorce and custody proceedings with McKinsey prior to his death.

The defense also challenged the prosecution's claim of lying in wait, arguing it would be difficult to substantiate if they were to prove Chen as the primary shooter, given Zhang’s alleged extensive firing.

Chen's bail hearing is scheduled for November 4.