New York Times Games Director Shot Dead by In-Laws in Bay Area Park

Jonathan McKinsey, 40, head of engineering for New York Times Games, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California. His parents-in-law, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were arrested at the scene within minutes. Police say the married couple fired multiple shots at McKinsey around 3:08 p.m. local time. Both suspects are being held without bail and face arraignment Wednesday on first-degree murder charges. McKinsey had worked at the Times since January 2023 and previously faced child abuse allegations in a custody dispute.

How the shooting unfolded

A Dublin police sergeant discovered McKinsey lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds in the park’s parking lot shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses began calling 911 to report the shooting. Officers quickly identified and detained Zhang and Chen, who remained at the scene. Witness Assad Razawi told local media he heard five or six shots and saw McKinsey drop to the ground bleeding from the chest. He said the couple walked calmly away at a normal pace before police caught them nearby.

The suspects and charges

Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, a married couple from Dublin, are McKinsey’s mother- and father-in-law. Both were arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Santa Rita Jail. Jail records show they were also arrested on suspicion of willful discharge of a firearm and child endangerment. Police have not disclosed a motive. An arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, likely on first-degree murder charges. Both are being held without bail.

McKinsey’s background and prior legal troubles

McKinsey earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech and a master’s in computer science from UC Berkeley. Before joining the Times in January 2023, he worked as an engineering manager at Splunk. Alameda County court records show McKinsey was charged in 2025 with two misdemeanor counts of child abuse. According to a probable cause statement, his wife reported he struck her 6-year-old son in the face with an open hand. Deputies also found a 2-year-old girl left unsupervised in his home for over an hour while he went shopping. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The custody battle and restraining order

McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang, were embroiled in a child custody battle at the time of his death. Last year, a judge granted Jang’s petition for a domestic violence temporary restraining order against McKinsey. McKinsey filed for divorce in December, and a hearing was scheduled for October. In August, the court approved hiring a private child custody evaluator. Court documents show the family was engaged in ongoing legal disputes over custody and allegations of domestic and child abuse.

Final Thoughts

McKinsey’s death marks a tragic end to a high-profile tech executive caught in a bitter family dispute. The swift arrest of Zhang and Chen removes any immediate public safety threat, but the case raises questions about the escalation of domestic conflicts into violence.

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