DUBLIN, Calif. (TCN) — Detectives have allegedly uncovered evidence that the elderly couple accused of fatally shooting their son-in-law at a park in September had planned in advance to target him.
On Sept. 26, Johnathan McKinsey, who worked as the head of engineering at New York Times Games, was fatally shot while at a park in Dublin, California. His in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, were arrested at an intersection near the scene on suspicion of first-degree murder and conspiracy, and were booked into jail.
Investigators learned the couple’s daughter, Candice Jang, was in the middle of a contentious divorce and custody battle with McKinsey, and according to court documents, both had accused each other of domestic violence.
Zhang and Chen pleaded not guilty to the charges against them on Oct. 19.
KRON reports two guns were allegedly used in the shooting. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, Chen’s attorney said Zhang had purchased both firearms earlier in the year because McKinsey had allegedly threatened and harmed Chen in the past. The alleged shooting occurred when McKinsey arrived at a park for a supervised visit with his children.
In a filing, the attorney, Curtis Briggs, wrote, “Mr. Zhang had purchased both firearms early in the year because he was afraid. Mr. McKinsey had threatened to kill Ms. Chen, had previously assaulted and broken Mr. Zhang’s rib, and had brutally beaten their grandchildren. Mr. McKinsey had an explosive temper, so Ms. Chen began keeping a firearm for protection,” per KRON. He went on to allege that Chen was “in the dark” about Zhang’s alleged plan.
According to KRON, detectives searching the couple’s home allegedly found that photos of McKinsey had been defaced. Briggs wrote, “Several photographs of Mr. McKinsey in the albums had portions of his face cut out. One had black marks and dots drawn on his chest and over his right eye in places that appeared consistent with where he was later shot. Detective Tambar concluded that the photographs suggested Zhang had focused on McKinsey prior to the homicide and that Zhang had formed an intent to target McKinsey.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reports the defense teams for both Zhang and Chen will seek pretrial release on nonfinancial conditions for their clients at upcoming hearings; according to court filings obtained by the outlet, they reportedly live mainly off of Social Security.
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