A transgender New York Times executive was killed allegedly by his 77-year-old in-laws in a Bay Area parking lot during daylight hours. He had previously made alleged threats against his wife and extended family members, as documented in court filings.
Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was fatally shot by Shouyong Zhang, 77, and Shili Chen, 77, who eyewitnesses report alternately discharged firearms at him in the parking facility at Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California on Saturday afternoon.
Jonathan McKinsey's wife shocking allegations against him
In an August custody petition, McKinsey's wife Candice Jang said, “During our marriage, the children and I learned to avoid provoking Jonathan lest he became angry. In my experience, appearing agreeable or happy around him was sometimes a means of avoiding his anger," as per court document obtained by the California Post.
Jang and McKinsey entered into marriage in 2010. However, she initiated divorce proceedings in 2025 following allegations that he engaged in abusive behavior toward her and one of their young sons.
Jonathan McKinsey's gifted strange book to kids
Jang asserted that McKinsey had recently given a book to their three children depicting a mother's death.
{{/usCountry}}Jang asserted that McKinsey had recently given a book to their three children depicting a mother's death.
{{/usCountry}}“Jonathan dismisses my concern about a book he provided to the children concerning the death of a mother. He omits the context that makes the conduct frightening to me. Jonathan has previously threatened to kill me and my parents,” she stated in the documents.
Jang went on to explain that her husband had a tendency to point fingers at others for every issue instead of owning up to his own role in the problems.
Jonathan McKinsey filed for divorce
McKinsey initiated divorce proceedings last year and was engaged in a contentious custody dispute with Jang. He faced allegations of mistreating Jang and their three children aged 3, 5, and 7.
Jang obtained a restraining order against McKinsey in 2025, and he responded by filing his own restraining order during that same year.
McKinsey faced two misdemeanor charges related to child abuse stemming from the incident. However, he was discharged from custody contingent upon completing mandatory parenting education.
Jang filed a supplementary motion with the court to provide updates regarding the custody matter and to contest what she characterized as perjured statements made by her spouse.
Jonathan McKinsey's gender transition
The former executive underwent a gender transition from female to male in 2010 and then married Jang in 2011. The estranged couple was scheduled to appear in court this Friday regarding custody matters before the shooting occurred.
Jang joined the New York Times in early 2023 as a senior engineering manager overseeing the games platform and advanced to director of engineering for games player experience by late 2025.
Law enforcement officials have identified the family dispute as a potential motive in the serious incident involving the elderly couple who allegedly discharged firearms at McKinsey.