New court filings reportedly show Shili Chen blaming her husband for the alleged killing of their transgender son-in-law, a New York Times executive, about a month after the couple’s arrest.
Chen, 77, and Shouyong Zhang were taken into custody Sept. 26 in connection with the fatal shooting of Jonathan McKinsey, 40, at a busy park in Dublin, California.
According to a bail motion cited by the San Francisco Chronicle, Chen’s attorneys say she remained inside the couple’s vehicle and watched Zhang fire the shots that killed McKinsey at the Dublin Sports Grounds.
New court filings reportedly show Shili Chen blaming her husband for the alleged killing of their transgender son-in-law, a New York Times executive, about a month after the couple’s arrest. (Alameda County Sheriff’s Office; Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Chen’s attorney, Curtis Briggs, said she left the car only “to protect her husband from what she feared was an assault by Mr. McKinsey,” according to the California Post.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Chen later firing at McKinsey, after Zhang had already shot him.
Her legal team contends that Zhang planned the killing without informing Chen, leaving her “in the dark” about his intentions.
Court documents obtained by News Media reportedly state that Zhang acknowledged the shooting days later, after investigators showed him video of the attack.
Zhang told police that he asked Chen to drive him to the park but did not tell her the reason for the trip, the Chronicle reported.
Prosecutors allege the couple waited at the park for McKinsey before opening fire. Briggs disputes that claim, arguing that the evidence does not establish they were “lying in wait.”
That alleged special circumstance has been cited as the reason Chen and Zhang remain jailed without bail.
Prosecutors allege the couple waited at the park for McKinsey before opening fire. Briggs disputes that claim, arguing that the evidence does not establish they were “lying in wait.” (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Both defendants are seeking release while they await trial.
In a separate court filing, Zhang’s public defender argued that the 77-year-old does not present a danger because of his age and medical condition, describing the shooting as an isolated family dispute.
Chen’s attorney also argued that she was not the “actual killer,” maintaining that McKinsey had already died when she allegedly shot him.
Multiple 911 callers reported hearing gunshots at the Dublin Sports Grounds. A Dublin Police Services sergeant arrived to find McKinsey on his back with several gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses directed officers toward a black Honda Civic departing the parking lot, court filings say. Police later carried out a high-risk traffic stop nearby.
Chen was behind the wheel and allegedly possessed a firearm when officers detained the pair. Zhang was seated in the passenger seat.
Three witnesses identified Chen and Zhang as the shooters, while surveillance footage allegedly showed them firing at McKinsey “in concert.”
Jonathan McKinsey, an engineering executive with The New York Times’ Games division, was fatally shot in Dublin, California, last month. Authorities arrested his parents-in-law on suspicion of murder within minutes of the shooting. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Police said the couple started shooting in a crowded park’s parking lot with “blatant disregard for public safety,” even as several children were nearby.
Police later searched the Honda and recovered a second firearm that Zhang allegedly admitted using in the shooting.
The complaint alleges the killing involved “great violence” and acts showing a “high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.” Prosecutors also allege both defendants were armed or used a weapon during the killing.
McKinsey’s killing came amid a bitter divorce and custody battle with Chen and Zhang’s daughter, Candice Jang.
McKinsey accused Chen of directing anti-LGBTQ slurs at him and one of his children and alleged Zhang struck him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery, The Mercury News reported. Jang made competing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse against McKinsey, which he disputed.
News Media reviewed court dockets showing McKinsey and Jang were locked in multiple legal battles when McKinsey was killed, including competing domestic violence restraining order cases, a child custody dispute and a pending divorce.
Jang sought a domestic violence restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025, while McKinsey filed his own request two months later. The competing domestic violence matters were headed toward a three-day hearing in December.