NYT exec allegedly gunned down by in-laws who ‘took turns shooting’ him, after his ex-wife accused him of making terrifying threats

An elderly man and woman are both facing multiple charges after they allegedly executed their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times executive, in a car park in Dublin, 35 miles East of San Francisco. The alleged murder came almost a year after McKinsey and his wife filed for divorce and filed restraining orders against one another.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon, reports The New York Post. Shouyong Zhang, 77, and his wife, Shili Chen, also 77, allegedly gunned Jonathan McKinsey down in the parking area at the Dublin Sports Grounds. Witnesses described seeing the elderly couple shooting the NYT exec, with claims that the pair took turns riddling the body with bullets.

McKinsey, who was a trans man, joined The New York Times in 2023 as a senior engineering manager, working on the games. The New York Times is known for producing puzzle games such as the ever-popular Wordle.

Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen were McKinsey’s parents-in-law, but recent legal disputes between him and their daughter, McKinsey’s wife, Candice Jang, indicated that there was a rift in the family. According to BBC News, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen are facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder. They are due to appear in court and formally face charges on Wednesday; it is not clear if they have a lawyer.

Jonathan McKinsey and his wife both had restraining orders

McKinsey’s wife had accused her husband of domestic abuse in a custody hearing held back in August. “During our marriage, the children and I learned to avoid provoking Jonathan lest he become angry. In my experience, appearing agreeable or happy around him was sometimes a means of avoiding his anger,” she said.

McKinsey and Jang married in 2010, but Jang filed for divorce in December 2025, following alleged abuse by the NYT exec directed towards her and one of their children. Jang also mentioned how McKinsey had presented a book to their three children in which a young girl mourned the death of her mother. 

“Jonathan has previously threatened to kill me and my parents,” she claimed in documents. “Given his prior threats against my life, I found the choice deeply disturbing and frightening,” she added.

The couple had been engaged in a rather nasty custody battle before the shooting. Jang had also reportedly filed a restraining order against McKinsey in 2025, and he filed one back the same year. He was later charged with two counts of misdemeanour child abuse, according to The Post. 

Police believe the family conflict may have been a motive for Jonathan McKinsey’s execution. However, McKinsey had previously claimed his in-laws had abused him because of his gender identity. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.