DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA — A couple accused of killing their son-in-law in the parking lot of a popular Dublin sports complex allegedly fired more than a dozen shots at him using two firearms purchased months before the deadly encounter, according to new court filings.
The latest revelations provide a disturbing account of the September 26 shooting at Dublin Sports Grounds, where 40-year-old Jonathan McKinsey was killed in broad daylight as families and children gathered nearby.
His parents-in-law, 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang and 77-year-old Shili Chen, have been charged with murder. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The case, which has attracted national attention, involves an increasingly complicated legal battle over what happened in the parking lot, whether the killing was planned, and whether both defendants should be held responsible.
Prosecutors Allege a Planned Killing
According to new court filings reported by the Danville San Ramon news site, prosecutors allege that Zhang and Chen used two firearms purchased well before the September shooting.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured the attack, which occurred during what was supposed to be a court-ordered visit between McKinsey and his children.
Prosecutors have charged both defendants with murder and a special circumstance of lying in wait, suggesting they believe the killing was planned rather than spontaneous.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has said both defendants could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
The latest filings describe a particularly violent sequence of events.
According to the account presented by Chen’s defense attorney, Curtis Briggs, Zhang approached McKinsey and opened fire, continuing to shoot for approximately 10 seconds after McKinsey fell to the pavement.
Briggs said Chen did not fire until 23 seconds after McKinsey had fallen, by which time he had already suffered nearly a dozen gunshot wounds.
The defense attorney acknowledged that Chen subsequently fired at McKinsey while he was on the ground, but disputed prosecutors’ allegations that she knowingly participated in a coordinated killing.
Get the latest Dublin and Tri-Valley news with Bay Area Telegraph’s free 925 newsletter.
Defense Claims Wife Did Not Know About Husband’s Plans
Briggs has argued that Chen was unaware of her husband’s intentions when the couple arrived at Dublin Sports Grounds.
According to his filings, Zhang allegedly told investigators that nobody else knew what he intended to do.
The defense also claims that surveillance footage supports Chen’s account that she initially remained in the vehicle and only reacted after hearing gunfire.
Briggs maintains that Chen fired because she feared for her husband’s safety.
The attorney has also pointed to what appeared to be an axe near McKinsey during the encounter, although it remains unclear whether the object was a real weapon or a toy.
That detail has become part of the defense’s argument about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. It does not establish that McKinsey threatened either defendant.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, have opposed releasing the defendants on bail, arguing that the seriousness of the charges and evidence supporting the allegations warrant continued detention.
Investigators Found Disturbing Photographs
Other evidence disclosed in recent court filings suggests that the family conflict may have been escalating long before the shooting.
According to KRON4’s reporting on the defense filings, investigators searched the couple’s Dublin apartment and discovered several photographs of McKinsey that had been altered.
Some photographs reportedly had portions of his face removed. Another had markings around his chest and eye that investigators believed resembled locations where he was subsequently shot.
The defense filings describe a detective’s conclusion that the altered photographs suggested Zhang had been focused on McKinsey before the killing.
Briggs has argued that the evidence points toward Zhang acting independently rather than establishing that Chen participated in planning the attack.
The photographs have nevertheless added another troubling dimension to the prosecution’s allegations of premeditation.
Killing Followed Bitter Family Custody Dispute
The shooting occurred amid an acrimonious divorce and child custody battle between McKinsey and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, the defendants’ daughter.
Court records describe competing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse, as well as disputes over McKinsey’s access to the couple’s three children.
McKinsey, a transgender man who worked as a director of engineering for The New York Times’ gaming platforms, had also accused members of his estranged wife’s family of mistreatment.
Those claims, and allegations made against McKinsey, were contested. None independently establishes a justification for the killing.
Police said McKinsey was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot at approximately 3:08 p.m. September 26.
Witnesses helped officers identify Zhang and Chen, who were detained within minutes of the shooting.
Authorities said there were no outstanding suspects or known ongoing threats to public safety.
What Happens Next?
Both defendants remain in custody at Santa Rita Jail as their attorneys seek release pending trial.
A November 4 bail hearing was continued, with another bail hearing scheduled for December 3.
The defendants are also scheduled to return to court November 23 for a pretrial hearing.
At the center of the proceedings is the question of whether both defendants participated in a premeditated murder, as prosecutors allege, or whether Chen acted without knowledge of her husband’s intentions, as her attorney contends.
Neither defendant has been convicted, and the allegations against them remain subject to adjudication in court.
