A Facebook post by William Finney II, the father of Jonathan McKinsey, revealed the family’s desire for reconciliation days before tragedy struck. McKinsey, an executive with the New York Times, was reportedly killed by his 77-year-old in-laws in California.
On September 7, McKinsey posted a cheerful photo of himself on Facebook. Underneath, his father wrote, “Jon, hope everything is going well. Hope you can visit us when you have some free time. Mom and Dad love you so much and miss you. Hope everything goes well with you and Candice and the kids.”
Less than three weeks later, McKinsey, aged 40, was fatally shot in the parking area of Dublin Sports Grounds. Authorities have accused his in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, of planning and executing the attack.
“A witness reported gunshots before police found McKinsey with multiple wounds,” said a spokesperson for Dublin Police Services. “Several witnesses identified Chen and Zhang as the shooters, adding that surveillance confirmed their actions.”
The couple reportedly fired their weapons in a park filled with people, including children, showing little concern for public safety. Zhang later confessed to the shooting while speaking with investigators, who recovered a second firearm allegedly used by Zhang.
McKinsey’s demise intersected with a messy divorce and custody dispute involving his estranged wife, Candice Jang. Legal records indicate that domestic violence allegations and protective orders were filed by both parties.
Jang and McKinsey’s marriage, which spanned 14 years, had deteriorated, with Jang holding legal custody of their kids. McKinsey accused Jang of physical and emotional abuse, stating, “I believe she would harm our children if she thought I might gain custody.”
In the ongoing legal saga, McKinsey was charged in October with incidents involving his children. He denied any wrongdoing, suggesting Jang entrapped him.
Law enforcement conducted a search at Jang’s residence, though the specifics of their investigation remain undisclosed. It is unclear if Zhang or Chen have legal representation, and efforts to reach Jang and McKinsey’s family for comments have been unsuccessful.