A couple in their late seventies was charged with murder after their son-in-law was fatally shot in a crowded park parking lot in Dublin, California, last weekend. Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77 and residents of Dublin, were taken into custody shortly after the incident and face additional charges including willful discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, conspiracy, and child endangerment. Prosecutors allege that the shooting was premeditated, with a special circumstance of “lying in wait” cited, which could result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted.
The victim, Jonathan McKinsey, 40, who died at the scene after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, was the son-in-law of Zhang and Chen. McKinsey, a transgender man and director of engineering at a major media company’s gaming department, had been involved in a protracted and acrimonious divorce and custody battle with his wife, Candice Jang, who is the daughter of Zhang and Chen. The couple had been married since 2011 and shared three young children.
Court documents reveal a complex history of mutual allegations of abuse and neglect between McKinsey and Jang. Jang obtained a domestic violence prevention order in late 2025, citing incidents including McKinsey allegedly striking their son and physically restraining her. McKinsey, who denied those allegations, had also been charged with misdemeanor child abuse but pleaded not guilty. He, in turn, accused Jang of neglecting their children and alleged physical abuse by both her and her parents, claims documented in his requests for restraining orders. He reported instances of anti-LGBTQ+ slurs from his mother-in-law and alleged physical aggression from his father-in-law during his medical recovery.
The couple’s legal conflicts included disputes over custody and visitation rights. For much of 2026, McKinsey’s visits with his children were supervised, but a court ruling later allowed limited unsupervised visits in public spaces. Both spouses had expressed fears in court filings that the ongoing dispute could escalate into violence, though Jang has not been charged in relation to the shooting.
On the day of the incident, police responded to 911 calls reporting gunfire at the park. A passing officer discovered McKinsey severely wounded in the parking lot. Witnesses reported seeing a masked man and woman firing the shots and walking away afterward. Police arrested Zhang and Chen moments later as they attempted to leave the scene in a vehicle reportedly containing firearms. Surveillance footage later confirmed the couple’s involvement in the shooting.
Neither Zhang nor Chen has publicly commented on the charges, and it remains unclear whether they have legal representation. Meanwhile, McKinsey’s attorney expressed deep sorrow over the death, emphasizing the tragic impact on the children left without their father.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which took place in a public area with several children present, raising concerns about public safety. The case underscores the complexities and dangers entangled in contentious family disputes and ongoing legal battles.