Jonathan McKinsey murder case: What we know about the crime against the NYT executive

The killing of Jonathan McKinsey, an engineering executive at The New York Times, has drawn national attention after police arrested his parents-in-law in connection with the fatal shooting at a public sports complex in Dublin, California.

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McKinsey, 40, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday, September 26, 2026. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Dublin Police Services. Authorities identified the two people arrested as Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, a married couple and the parents of McKinsey’s estranged wife.

The case is still under investigation, and police have not publicly established a motive. Court records and media reports, however, show that McKinsey had been involved in a contentious divorce and custody dispute that included competing allegations of domestic violence.

What happened to Jonathan McKinsey?

According to Dublin Police Services, a police sergeant was driving near Dublin Sports Grounds at approximately 3:08 p.m. on September 26 when he noticed a man lying in the parking lot.

At roughly the same time, emergency dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting. Officers and emergency medical personnel arrived and found McKinsey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

The account is consistent with the initial information published about the case, which described McKinsey as being discovered with several gunshot wounds at the suburban athletic complex roughly 35 miles east of downtown San Francisco.

Witnesses helped officers locate two people who remained nearby. Police identified them as Zhang and Chen and detained them within minutes.

Dublin police said there were no outstanding suspects and no known threat to the wider public following the arrests.

Who are the suspects in the Jonathan McKinsey case?

Police identified Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both Dublin residents, as McKinsey’s parents-in-law. Authorities arrested the couple on suspicion of murder and booked them into Santa Rita Jail.

Some reports differ slightly on their ages, listing them as either 76 or 77. The official Dublin police statement published September 27 lists both suspects as 77.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the pair were being held without bail and were scheduled for an arraignment Wednesday. The newspaper also reported additional booking allegations, though the precise basis for every allegation had not been publicly explained.

Neither an arrest nor a criminal charge establishes guilt. The allegations against Zhang and Chen will ultimately be tested through the court process.

Witnesses describe the shooting

Witness accounts have provided investigators with information about what happened immediately before police arrived.

Dublin resident Assad Razawi told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was near a grocery store across from the park when he heard what sounded like five or six gunshots. He then saw a man collapse in the parking lot and observed a man and woman walking away from the area.

The material published by The New York Times similarly reported that witnesses directed officers toward two people standing nearby.

Police have not yet provided a detailed public reconstruction of the shooting or disclosed what evidence investigators believe establishes the role of each suspect.

Who was Jonathan McKinsey?

McKinsey worked in engineering for The New York Times Games operation. The Times reported that he was director of engineering for its games department and had joined the company in 2023 after working for technology companies including Splunk, Coursera and Oracle.

People reported that a Times spokesperson described McKinsey as Head of Engineering for New York Times Games.

His death occurred against the backdrop of significant personal and legal disputes involving his estranged wife, Candice Jang.

Divorce, restraining orders and child abuse charges

Court records cited by several outlets show that McKinsey and Jang had each sought protection orders against the other in 2025.

The New York Times reported that Jang accused McKinsey of physically injuring her during an argument, while McKinsey, in his own filing, accused Jang and members of her family of years of mistreatment and abuse. These claims were allegations made in court filings and had not been adjudicated as findings of fact.

McKinsey was also facing two misdemeanor child abuse-related charges stemming from separate allegations in 2025. He had pleaded not guilty and had been released subject to conditions that included parenting classes, according to the material provided and reporting by People.

McKinsey disputed aspects of the allegations against him and made his own accusations concerning the treatment of the couple’s children.

The existence of that family litigation has become an important part of media coverage, but investigators have not publicly confirmed that the disputes were the motive for the killing.

What is the motive in the Jonathan McKinsey murder case?

That remains the biggest unanswered question.

Dublin Police Services has said detectives are examining evidence to determine the circumstances that led to McKinsey’s death. Its official update does not identify a motive.

The family’s divorce, custody proceedings, restraining-order filings and prior allegations provide context, but they should not be treated as proof of why the shooting occurred.

As of September 29, 2026, the investigation remains active. The next major developments are expected to come through court proceedings involving Zhang and Chen and any additional evidence released by police or prosecutors.