Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old engineering director at The New York Times, was shot dead outside the Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California, on Sept. 26. Witnesses described two masked assailants firing at McKinsey; a nearby officer and responding units detained two suspects minutes later. Authorities booked the suspects—identified as McKinsey's parents-in-law—on suspicion of murder and related counts. The killing occurred amid a heated child custody dispute and prior domestic allegations, and the investigation is ongoing.
Parents-in-Law Arrested After New York Times Engineering Director Shot Dead Outside Dublin Sports Complex
Oliver Helbig / Getty Images
Jonathan McKinsey, 40, an engineering director at The New York Times, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California, on Saturday, Sept. 26, shortly after 3 p.m., according to local media and law enforcement sources.
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Witnesses told reporters that two masked individuals approached McKinsey and took turns firing at him. He was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders attempted aid.
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“I saw the guy drop to the floor. Head bloody and chest bloody,” said witness Assad Razawi to ABC7 Los Angeles. Razawi's daughter told the station her father saw the suspected shooters walk away from the scene.
A Dublin police sergeant driving nearby spotted McKinsey as emergency calls came in. Responding officers located a black sedan at a nearby intersection and detained two people minutes after the shooting.
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Authorities booked Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder. Local reporting indicates the suspects face charges that may include first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, firing a gun in a way likely to endanger others, and child endangerment. Prosecutors and police continue to investigate and have not publicly confirmed a motive.
McKinsey had been with The New York Times since early 2023 and was later promoted to director of engineering for games player experience. His prior employers included NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Oracle, Coursera and Splunk.
The shooting comes amid a bitter family dispute. McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang—who is the daughter of the two suspects—had been engaged in a child custody battle. Alameda County prosecutors previously filed two misdemeanor counts of child abuse against McKinsey after Jang reported he struck their 6-year-old son; reports say McKinsey planned to complete a mental health program so the charges could be dismissed. Documents cited by local outlets also describe earlier domestic-allegation reports and a temporary restraining order obtained by Jang. McKinsey filed for divorce in December, and a related hearing had been scheduled for the following month, according to reporting.
Police ask anyone with information, video, or other evidence related to the shooting to contact the Dublin Police Department. The investigation remains active, and the charges against the suspects are allegations; they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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