Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang Charged With Murdering Son-in-Law Jonathan McKinsey During California Custody Dispute

 

California Grandparents Accused of Shooting Their Son-in-Law to Death During Bitter Custody Battle

On September 26, 2026, Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California.

He had been attending a supervised visit with his three children.

Authorities arrested Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, the parents of McKinsey's estranged wife.

According to prosecutors, the couple took turns shooting McKinsey in the parking lot.

They were arrested near a local police station shortly afterward.

Both were charged with first-degree murder.

On October 19, 2026, Chen and Zhang appeared in an Alameda County courtroom and pleaded not guilty.

Their attorneys claim the shooting was not planned.

According to the defense, the grandparents had purchased firearms months earlier because they feared McKinsey and believed he posed a danger to their grandchildren.

The defense also pointed to a history of conflict between McKinsey and his estranged wife, Candice Jang, including allegations of domestic violence.

In October 2025, McKinsey had been charged with child endangerment and corporal injury following accusations involving Jang. He had pleaded not guilty.

Those allegations remain separate from the murder case and do not establish that the shooting was justified.

Prosecutors allege that Chen and Zhang deliberately killed McKinsey. Their attorneys dispute that account.

Both defendants face potential life sentences if convicted. Neither has been found guilty.

Whatever happened during the marriage, three children have now lost their father to gun violence in the middle of an already bitter custody dispute.

Jonathan McKinsey was 40 years old. He went to a supervised visit with his children and never came home.

The adults can argue about fear, custody, and who was responsible for what. But three children are left with a dead father and a family torn apart by violence.