New York Times Executive Fatally Shot in California; In-Laws Arrested

Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times tech executive, was fatally shot multiple times in a parking lot in Dublin, California, on Saturday. His in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, have been arrested and charged with murder, felony conspiracy, child endangerment, and dangerously firing a gun.

Police stated that Zhang and Chen took turns shooting McKinsey. The incident occurred nearly a year after McKinsey's wife, Candice Jang, filed a domestic violence prevention order against him. According to court records obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Jang accused McKinsey of physically, verbally, and emotionally abusing her and their three young children.

Jang's filing detailed alleged abuse, including an instance where she claimed McKinsey hit their six-year-old son multiple times and pushed him, causing his head to strike the floor and resulting in a bump and abrasions. She also alleged that McKinsey hurled verbal insults at their son. Another court document obtained by Mercury News states Jang claimed McKinsey hit their son in the face during an argument over LEGOs, leaving a handprint-shaped bruise.

In July 2025, Jang reportedly wrote in a court filing that McKinsey had caused permanent damage to her mental and physical health over 17 years of alleged abuse. She sought a restraining order to protect herself, their children, and her mother. The protection order was granted.

McKinsey himself had filed court documents claiming Jang was abusive for over 15 years, including an incident in 2013 where he alleged she hit him with a frying pan. He also accused Chen, Jang's mother, of verbally abusing one of their children and making derogatory remarks about his gender transition. McKinsey alleged that Chen used anti-LGBTQ+ slurs towards him and the child.

McKinsey, who was transgender, also accused Jang of being abusive during medical procedures related to his transition and claimed her father punched him after a double mastectomy. McKinsey filed for divorce in December, and child custody was a point of litigation, with a court hearing scheduled for Friday.

Witnesses reported seeing two masked individuals approach McKinsey in the parking lot and fire multiple shots before calmly walking away. Police tracked Zhang and Chen to a black sedan, and they were taken into custody. Their arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.

McKinsey had been employed at The New York Times since 2023 as the head of engineering for games player experience. Previously, he was an engineering manager at software company Splunk. The motive for the attack remains under investigation, with authorities looking into all angles of the victim's and suspects' histories and relationships.