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One month after she and her husband were arrested for the alleged murder of their trans New York Times executive son-in-law, Shili Chen claims in new legal documents that her husband is the one to blame, according to reports.
Shili Chen, 77, and Shouyong Zhang were arrested Sept. 26 for allegedly shooting Jonathan McKinsey, 40, in a crowded park in Dublin, California.
In a new bail filing, Chen’s lawyers claim the 77-year-old watched her husband fire the fatal shots at McKinsey at the Dublin Sports Grounds from inside her car, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
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One month after she and her husband were arrested for the alleged murder of their trans New York Times executive son-in-law, Shili Chen claims in new legal documents that her husband is the one to blame, according to reports. (Alameda County Sheriff’s Office; Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Her lawyer, Curtis Briggs, argued that Chen only got out of the car “to protect her husband from what she feared was an assault by Mr. McKinsey,” the California Post reported.
She was allegedly seen on surveillance video firing a gun at McKinsey after Zhang fired the shots that killed him.
Chen’s lawyers argued she was kept “in the dark” while Zhang planned McKinsey’s murder.
Zhang allegedly admitted to the fatal shooting just days after when video footage of the attack was shown to him, court documents obtained by Digital showed.
Zhang told police he asked his wife to drive to the park but didn’t explain why, according to the Chronicle.
Prosecutors accused the couple of “lying in wait” at the park for McKinsey before the shooting, but her lawyer claims there isn’t enough evidence to prove that.
That special circumstance has been used to hold the couple without bail.
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Prosecutors accused the couple of “lying in wait” at the park for McKinsey before the shooting, but her lawyer claims there isn’t enough evidence to prove that. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Both Chen and Zhang are asking for pretrial release.
In a separate filing, Zhang’s public defender argued that he didn’t pose a threat because of his age and health and because the shooting was an isolated family incident.
Chen’s lawyer argues that she wasn’t the “actual killer” since she shot McKinsey when he was already dead.
Several 911 callers reported gunfire at the Dublin Sports Grounds before a Dublin Police Services sergeant arrived and found McKinsey lying face up with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses pointed police toward a black Honda Civic leaving the parking lot, leading officers to conduct a high-risk traffic stop nearby, the filings state.
Chen was driving and allegedly had a firearm in her possession when she was detained, while Zhang was 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.
Jonathan McKinsey, a New York Times Games engineering executive, was shot and killed in Dublin, California, last month, and his parents-in-law were arrested on suspicion of murder within minutes, authorities said. (Jon McKinsey/Facebook)
Police said the couple started shooting in a crowded park’s parking lot with “blatant disregard for public safety,” even as several children were nearby.
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Police later searched the Honda and recovered a second firearm that Zhang allegedly admitted using in the shooting.
The complaint alleges the killing involved “great violence” and acts showing a “high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.” Prosecutors also allege both defendants were armed or used a weapon during the killing.
McKinsey’s killing came amid a bitter divorce and custody battle with Chen and Zhang’s daughter, Candice Jang.
McKinsey accused Chen of directing anti-LGBTQ slurs at him and one of his children and alleged Zhang struck him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery, The Mercury News reported. Jang made competing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse against McKinsey, which he disputed.
Digital reviewed court dockets showing McKinsey and Jang were locked in multiple legal battles when McKinsey was killed, including competing domestic violence restraining order cases, a child custody dispute and a pending divorce.
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Jang sought a domestic violence restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025, while McKinsey filed his own request two months later. The competing domestic violence matters were headed toward a three-day hearing in December.
