{"id":359273,"date":"2026-09-28T22:44:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T22:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/359273\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T22:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T22:44:12","slug":"police-eye-motive-in-nyt-tech-exec-slaying-after-mugshot-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/359273\/","title":{"rendered":"Police eye motive in NYT tech exec slaying after mugshot released"},"content":{"rendered":"

Investigators are eyeing accusations of child abuse and domestic violence in a search for possible motives for the alleged slaying of a New York Times tech executive <\/a>in a park allegedly at the hands of his in-laws, the California Post has learned.<\/p>\n

Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, allegedly shot dead Jonathan McKinsey, <\/a>40, the newspaper\u2019s head of engineering for games player experience, in the parking lot of Dublin Sports Grounds around 3.p.m Saturday.<\/p>\n

Haunting mugshots show Zhang and Chen in custody at Santa Rita Jail, where they were booked early Sunday.<\/p>\n

Both arrestees face\u00a0charges of murder, conspiracy, willful discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and child abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Shili Chen is pictured Saturday in Dublin, California. Alameda County Sheriff’s Office<\/p>\n

Shouyong Zhang is pictured. Alameda County Sheriff’s Office<\/p>\n

Cops immediately zeroed in on a family conflict as a possible motive for the shocking crime that saw both halves of the elderly couple allegedly open fire on McKinsey, killing the Berkeley-educated Gray Lady exec in broad daylight. Facebook\/@Jon McKinsey<\/p>\n

Cops have zeroed in on a family conflict as a possible motive for the shocking crime that saw both halves of the elderly couple allegedly open fire on McKinsey, killing the Berkeley-educated Gray Lady exec in broad daylight.<\/p>\n

Now that court and law enforcement records have emerged detailing allegations of child abuse against McKinsey, along with reports of domestic violence against his wife, Candice Jang, investigators are looking at revenge as a possible reason for the bizarre murder<\/p>\n

Sources close to the investigation said its possible Zhang and Chen opened fire on McKinsey as retribution for alleged misdeeds against his child and Jang, who reported told police that McKinsey struck their child and bruised her arm in a heated dispute.<\/p>\n

Zhang and Chen have both given interviews to police, but it\u2019s not clear what they said. A spokesman for Dublin Police Services said cops are still investigating \u00a0their motive for the crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of our investigation is looking for motives from all angles, as well as looking at the histories and relationships of everyone involved and associated with the victim and suspects,\u201d said Capt. Miguel Campos.<\/p>\n

Jonathan McKinsey. Facebook\/@Jon McKinsey<\/p>\n

Jonathan McKinsey. Facebook\/@Jon McKinsey<\/p>\n

Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old tech executive at The New York Times who was shot dead in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday, is shown in this undated photo. Facebook\/@Jon McKinsey<\/p>\n

The legal evidence suggesting trouble in the home of McKinsey and Jang was buttressed by a chilling post on social media directed at McKinsey that was published just days before he was shot to death.<\/p>\n

\u201cJon, hope everything is going well. Hope you can visit us when you have some free time. Mom and Dad love you and miss you,\u201d states the post shared on McKinley\u2019s Facebook page two weeks ago. \u201cHope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Court records, seen by The Post, show McKinsey was charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse in 2025 by Alameda prosecutors.<\/p>\n

The encounter that led to the charges occurred after Jang calling Dublin police to report McKinsey had hit her six-year-old son in the face with an open hand.<\/p>\n

She also told investigators about a 2018 domestic violence incident, where McKinsey bruised her left arm, the documents say.<\/p>\n

When police went to their home, they found their two-year-old child in a room upstairs by himself while he was out shopping, according to a deputy sheriff.<\/p>\n

Jonathan McKinsey.<\/p>\n

McKinsey\u2019s father-in-law seen during his arrest.<\/p>\n

McKinsey and Jang were fighting a string of legal battles against each other before McKinsey was allegedly killed by her parents. Facebook\/@Jon McKinsey<\/p>\n

McKinsey ultimately pleaded not guilty to both crimes and was released from jail on the condition that he take parenting classes.<\/p>\n

McKinsey and Jang were fighting a string of legal battles against each other before McKinsey was allegedly killed by her parents.<\/p>\n

Jang sought a domestic violence restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025 and McKinsey sought one against Jang two months later.<\/p>\n

McKinsey filed for divorce from Jang in December, and the couple continued to litigate child custody this year, the outlet reports.<\/p>\n

A spokesman for the Times confirmed McKinsey was the victim of the Saturday afternoon shooting and that he had worked for the newspaper since 2023.<\/p>\n

First responders attempted aid, but he died at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing two masked assailants approach McKinsey in the lot.<\/p>\n

They said the shooters took turns unloading bullets into the victim before they were quickly arrested by a passing cop.<\/p>\n

Harrowing footage from the scene showed a corpse lying in the parking lot, before a couple was bundled into the back of a cop car.<\/p>\n

Zhang and Chen are being held without bail and are due in court Wednesday, according to Alameda County Sheriff\u2019s Office inmate records.<\/p>\n

While the elderly couple is from the Dublin area, they also have ties to Albuquerque, N.M.<\/p>\n

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