Trans New York Times exec hired ‘hitman’ to ‘get rid’ of his mother-in-law before she allegedly executed him: attorney

By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-10-19 21:46:27 | Updated at 2026-10-19 22:20:23 43 minutes ago

The transgender New York Times executive who was allegedly gunned down by his in-laws had previously hired a hitman to “get rid of” his mother-in-law, her defense attorney has claimed.

Jonathan McKinsey was shot dead at Dublin Sports Grounds on Sept. 26, allegedly at the hands of his elderly in-laws, 77-year-old Shili Chen and 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang, who are charged with murder.

But their defense attorney has now revealed a potentially explosive twist in the case, claiming McKinsey previously hired a gunman to take out Chen, according to KRON4.

A man with a beard and glasses smiling in a green shirt.

A man wearing a grey suit, light-blue shirt, striped tie, and sunglasses stands outside a building with the number 5151 on it.

Curtis Briggs, who represents Chen, made the allegation Monday while speaking to reporters outside an Alameda County courthouse.

According to Briggs, McKinsey had once enlisted a “hit-man” to “get rid of” Chen — a claim that could shed new light on the bitter family conflict preceding the deadly encounter.