Cops eye possible motive for slaying of New York Times tech exec after interviewing his in-laws — as haunting mugshots released

Investigators are eyeing accusations of child abuse and domestic violence in a search for possible motives for the alleged slaying of a New York Times tech executive in a park allegedly at the hands of his in-laws.

Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, allegedly shot dead Jonathan McKinsey, 40, the newspaper’s head of engineering for games player experience, in the parking lot of Dublin Sports Grounds around 3.p.m Saturday.

Haunting mugshots show Zhang and Chen in custody at Santa Rita Jail, where they were booked into custody early Sunday.

Both arrestees face charges of murder, conspiracy, willful discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and child abuse against both arrestees. 

Cops have zeroed in on a family conflict as a possible motive for the shocking crime that saw both halves of the elderly couple allegedly open fire on McKinsey, killing the Berkeley-educated Gray Lady exec in broad daylight.

Now that court and law enforcement records have emerged detailing allegations of child abuse against McKinsey, along with reports of domestic violence against his wife, Candice Jang, investigators are looking at revenge as a possible reason for the bizarre murder

Sources close to the investigation said its possible Zhang and Chen opened fire on McKinsey as retribution for alleged misdeeds against his child and Jang, who reported told police that McKinsey struck their child and bruised her arm in a heated dispute.

Zhang and Chen have both given interviews to police, but it’s not clear what they said. A spokesman for Dublin Police Services said cops are still investigating  their motive for the crime.

“Part of our investigation is looking for motives from all angles, as well as looking at the histories and relationships of everyone involved and associated with the victim and suspects,” said Capt. Miguel Campos.

The legal evidence suggesting trouble in the home of McKinsey and Jang was buttressed by a chilling post on social media directed at McKinsey that was published just days before he was shot to death.

“Jon, hope everything is going well. Hope you can visit us when you have some free time. Mom and Dad love you and miss you,” states the post shared on McKinley’s Facebook page two weeks ago. “Hope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids.”

Court records, seen by The Post, show McKinsey was charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse in 2025 by Alameda prosecutors.

The encounter that led to the charges occurred after Jang calling Dublin police to report McKinsey had hit her six-year-old son in the face with an open hand.

She also told investigators about a 2018 domestic violence incident, where McKinsey bruised her left arm, the documents say.

When police went to their home, they found their two-year-old child in a room upstairs by himself while he was out shopping, according to a deputy sheriff.

McKinsey ultimately pleaded not guilty to both crimes and was released from jail on the condition that he take parenting classes.

McKinsey and Jang were fighting a string of legal battles against each other before McKinsey was allegedly killed by her parents.

Jang sought a domestic violence restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025 and McKinsey sought one against Jang two months later, according to SF Gate.

McKinsey filed for divorce from Jang in December, and the couple continued to litigate child custody this year, the outlet reports.

A spokesman for the Times confirmed McKinsey was the victim of the Saturday afternoon shooting and that he had worked for the newspaper since 2023.

First responders attempted aid, but he died at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing two masked assailants approach McKinsey in the lot.

They said the shooters took turns unloading bullets into the victim before they were quickly arrested by a passing cop.

Harrowing footage from the scene showed a body lying in the parking lot in broad daylight, before a couple was bundled into the back of a cop car.

Zhang, who stands 5 feet 8 and weighs 165 pounds, allegedly carried out the attack alongside his wife, who measures just 5 feet 2 and weighs 110 pounds, according to Alameda County Sheriff’s Office inmate records.

While the elderly couple is from the Dublin area, they also have ties to Albuquerque, N.M.