A murdered New York Times executive allegedly threatened to hire someone to 'get rid of' his mother-in-law, who is accused of shooting him dead in a California parking lot, attorneys claim.
Jonathan McKinsey, 40, a father-of-three who was born female, was gunned down last month at Dublin Sports Grounds, a crowded public park in Dublin, about 35 miles east of downtown San Francisco.
He had just arrived for a mandatory child visitation meeting amid a bitter divorce and intense custody battle with his estranged wife, Candice Jang, 46.
Her parents, Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, were arrested minutes after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder. They remain behind bars without bail.
The couple pleaded not guilty in an Alameda County courthouse on Monday, where an attorney suggested a possible motive for the killing: Chen, McKinsey’s mother-in-law, feared for her life.
'My client trembles in fear when she hears Mr McKinsey’s name,' Defense Attorney Curtis Briggs said, according to SFGate.
He claimed that McKinsey had threatened his mother-in-law on 'three occasions,' including once through a hit man, prompting the elderly woman to buy firearms.
'Mr McKinsey had an extremely violent record,' Briggs told reporters outside the courthouse, according to KRON 4 News.
New York Times executive Jonathan McKinsey, 40, allegedly threatened to hire someone to 'get rid of' his mother-in-law, who is accused of shooting him dead in a California parking lot
McKinsey, a father-of-three who was born female, was gunned down last month at Dublin Sports Grounds, about 35 miles east of downtown San Francisco
His in-laws, Shili Chen (left) and Shouyong Zhang (right), both 77, were arrested minutes after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder. They remain behind bars without bail
'What we found out, through investigation, is there’s been at least three occasions, where there are witnesses, that Mr McKinsey actually threatened my client’s life,' he added.
'Chen was essentially a live-in nanny for the family, and Mr McKinsey was extremely hostile, violent. The divorce continued to deteriorate the dynamics of the family.'
The pair were charged with premeditated murder under the special circumstance of lying in wait. Briggs, however, argued the shooting was 'spontaneous,' claiming neither defendant had intended to harm McKinsey.
'They are not cold-blooded killers,' he said, according to NBC Bay Area News. 'They didn't premeditate anything. There was nothing planned. They were just concerned grandparents who were afraid for their grandchildren's safety.'
Hundreds of pages of court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail have laid bare McKinsey’s tumultuous relationship and split from his estranged wife, with both accusing the other of domestic violence.
At the time, McKinsey and Jang both said they feared 'for their own safety and their kids,' and each ultimately obtained a temporary restraining order against the other.
Family court records included a 2023 police report in which Jang accused McKinsey of slapping their six-year-old son across the face, leaving a 'large bruise in the shape of a handprint.'
She also alleged that he had been violent toward her in 2018, when she said he grabbed her wrist hard enough to leave bruises.
On Monday, Chen's defense attorney argued that the shooting was 'spontaneous,' claiming neither defendant had intended to harm McKinsey
McKinsey’s in-laws had been 'very accepting' of his transition in 2010, according to Chen's defense attorney, who argued that his identity as a trans man had 'nothing to do' with his killing
The couple, who Briggs said began carrying guns in March, went to the park for McKinsey’s supervised visit allegedly believing he was abusive and fearing he might harm their grandchildren
In a report on that earlier incident, police said they arrived at McKinsey’s home and found a two-year-old unattended in an upstairs bedroom while he was out shopping.
Tensions surrounding McKinsey’s transition also surfaced in court. He alleged that Jang pulled medical tubes from his body, Chen hurled transphobic insults at him and Zhang punched him in the chest while he recovered from a double mastectomy.
But Briggs rejected that account on Monday, insisting McKinsey’s in-laws had been 'very accepting' of his transition in 2010 and arguing that his identity as a trans man had 'nothing to do' with his killing.
The couple, who Briggs said began carrying guns in March, went to the park for McKinsey’s supervised visit believing he was abusive and fearing he might harm their grandchildren, he claimed.
'Mr McKinsey was ordered by a court that he couldn't be around his children alone. He had to pay for a social worker to be present, and he had to meet in a public place,' the attorney said, according to KTVU 2 News.
'So obviously any family member is going to be concerned about whether he's going to be violent toward those grandkids and any reasonable family member would want to be in the area in case something happens,' he added.
Briggs argued that Chen should be released from jail while the case proceeds, citing her health concerns and lack of a criminal record, and maintaining that she is not guilty.
'She’s a 5-foot-2 grandmother, not a criminal,' he said, according to SFGate. 'She’s just really been terrified.'
McKinsey alleged that Chen hurled transphobic insults at him and Zhang punched him in the chest while he recovered from a double mastectomy
Jang has not been charged with any crimes. However, detectives served a search warrant at her home on September 29
Both Chen and Zhang are due back in court on November 4 for a bail hearing, followed by a preliminary hearing on November 23
An assistant public defender also revealed that the defense intends to seek Zhang’s release, pointing to his clean criminal record, KGO News reported.
Zhang was also showing signs of dementia, the official said, arguing that his health and welfare needed to be considered while he remained behind bars.
Jang has not been charged with any crimes. However, detectives served a search warrant at her home on September 29.
Both Chen and Zhang are due back in court on November 4 for a bail hearing, followed by a preliminary hearing on November 23.