Jonathan McKinsey, 40, a director of engineering in the games department at The New York Times, was found fatally shot in a parking lot at a suburban sports park in Dublin, California, shortly after 3 p.m. on September 26. A Dublin Police Service (DPS) sergeant pronounced him dead at the scene after discovering multiple gunshot wounds.
In a DPS press release, authorities said McKinsey's parents-in-law — 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang and 77-year-old Shili Chen — were arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail. Police have not publicly confirmed a motive and investigators continue to gather evidence and interview potential witnesses.
Professional background: According to The New York Times and his LinkedIn profile, McKinsey served as director of engineering for the newspaper's games division. His LinkedIn lists studies in computer science at the Georgia Institute of Technology and at the University of California, Berkeley.
Personal and legal context: Reporting shows McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang, had been involved in a long-running, contentious custody dispute and had each filed requests for domestic violence restraining orders against the other. Court filings indicate both McKinsey and Jang filed for divorce in December 2025, and a family law status conference related to custody was scheduled to resume this week.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have not released a motive. News outlets have contacted the Dublin Police Service and attorneys for both parties for comment. Law enforcement officials said the investigation is active and additional details will be released as they become available.
Identification and reporting notes: Some reports have identified McKinsey as transgender. News organizations have circulated a LinkedIn profile photo identified as McKinsey, and mugshots of the arrested suspects were provided by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Image notes: Mugshots supplied by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office show Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang. A LinkedIn profile photo identified as Jonathan McKinsey has also circulated in reporting.
This is a developing story; more details may follow as investigators release information.
