Father hoped NYT executive son would visit home weeks before prosecutors allege deadly in-law ambush
A heartfelt Facebook message from a father urging his son to come home surfaced days after a New York Times executive was allegedly gunned down by his 77-year-old in-laws in a California park.
The executive, Jonathan McKinsey, shared a smiling photo of himself on Facebook on Sept. 7. His father, William Finney II, commented beneath the post with a message expressing hope the family could reunite.
"Jon, hope everything is going well," Finney wrote. "Hope you can visit us when you have some free time. Mom and Dad love you so much and miss you. Hope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids."
Less than three weeks later, McKinsey, 40, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds, where prosecutors allege his in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, carried out a planned ambush.
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office charged the couple with murder and accused them of intentionally killing McKinsey by "lying in wait."
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Several 911 callers reported gunfire before a Dublin Police Services sergeant arrived and found McKinsey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Shili Chen, 77, was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder after the fatal shooting of her son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, authorities said. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office)
Witnesses pointed officers toward a black Honda Civic leaving the parking lot, leading police to conduct a high-risk traffic stop nearby, according to court documents. Chen was allegedly driving while Zhang sat in the passenger seat.
Three witnesses identified Chen and Zhang as the shooters, while surveillance video allegedly captured the couple opening fire "in concert" on McKinsey.
Police allege the couple opened fire in a crowded park parking lot with "blatant disregard for public safety," even as several children were nearby.
Zhang later admitted shooting McKinsey during an interview with investigators, according to court documents. Police also recovered a second firearm Zhang allegedly admitted using in the killing.
Shouyong Zhang, 77, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the fatal shooting of his son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, in Dublin, California. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office)
McKinsey's death came amid a bitter divorce, child custody dispute and competing domestic violence cases involving his estranged wife, Candice Jang.
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Fox News Digital previously reviewed court dockets showing the couple had multiple hearings scheduled in the months ahead, including a family law status conference set for Oct. 2 and a three-day domestic violence restraining order hearing scheduled for December.
Court records show McKinsey filed for divorce in December. KTVU reported the couple had been married for 14 years, were living apart and Jang had sole legal and physical custody of their three children.
The court records also show competing domestic violence allegations. Jang obtained a temporary restraining order in October 2025. Two months later, McKinsey sought his own restraining order about a week before hers was set to expire.
Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times Games engineering executive, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Dublin, California, and his parents-in-law were arrested on suspicion of murder within minutes, authorities said. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
McKinsey alleged Jang physically and emotionally abused him on a weekly basis and mistreated their children.
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"I truly believe that she would hurt or even kill them if she believed there was any possibility of me having the children in my custody and care," McKinsey wrote in a declaration reviewed by KTVU.
McKinsey, a transgender man, also detailed conflicts with his in-laws in court filings. He accused his mother-in-law, Chen, of directing anti-LGBTQ slurs at his son and at McKinsey when he intervened.
Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times Games engineering executive, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Dublin, California, and his parents-in-law were arrested on suspicion of murder within minutes, authorities said. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
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McKinsey also accused Zhang of striking him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery in 2010.
McKinsey also alleged Jang forced him to eat a dead cockroach and once struck him with a frying pan.
In her protection order request, Jang alleged McKinsey physically and emotionally abused her, their children and her parents, asking the court to keep him away from all of them.
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"He can be vindictive, and I worry he will retaliate against me and the people listed above," she wrote.
Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times Games engineering executive, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Dublin, California, and his parents-in-law were arrested on suspicion of murder within minutes, authorities said. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
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Jang also wrote that she slept with a pair of scissors near her bed for protection in 2021.
Prosecutors separately charged McKinsey in October with two misdemeanor counts alleging he struck his 6-year-old son and left his 2-year-old child home alone while shopping, according to KTVU.
McKinsey denied intentionally leaving the toddler behind, arguing in court filings that Jang orchestrated the situation to frame him.
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Despite the ongoing legal battles, a judge later approved unsupervised public visits with the couple's three children.
Police also served a search warrant at Jang's home Tuesday night. Authorities have not disclosed what investigators were seeking.
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It was not immediately clear Thursday whether Zhang or Chen had retained attorneys to represent them.
Fox News Digital reached out to members of McKinsey's family seeking comment but did not immediately receive a response. Jang could not immediately be reached.
Greg Wehner is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering U.S. news and crime, with a focus on breaking developments, law enforcement, public safety and major stories shaping communities across the country.
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