Dublin couple charged with murder in custody-dispute ambush
A 77-year-old husband and wife were arraigned on murder charges after prosecutors say they ambushed and killed their son-in-law, New York Times executive Jonathan McKinsey, during a contested child-visitation at a Dublin park.
Police arrested Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, on Wednesday on murder charges and enhancements for intentional discharge of a firearm and lying in wait, an offense that carries life without parole. Prosecutors allege the couple shot McKinsey, 40, at the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday afternoon, a killing captured on surveillance video that showed Zhang and a driver firing in concert. A second gun was recovered from the couple’s Honda Civic, and Chen was found still in possession of one of the weapons.
McKinsey, a New York Times games executive, was involved in a bitter custody battle with his ex-spouse, the daughter of Zhang and Chen. He faced misdemeanor charges of corporal injury to a child and child endangerment, and a judge had ordered that all visitation exchanges occur in public locations to reduce conflict. The shooting occurred shortly after 3 p.m., witnessed by several bystanders, and was the city’s first homicide of the year.
During the arraignment, both defendants remained largely silent. Judge Diane Meier ordered Chen to return to court for appointment of counsel after she indicated, through a Mandarin interpreter, that she could not afford an attorney. Zhang is represented by a public defender. Both remain detained at Santa Rita Jail without bail.
Attorney Andrea Yah, representing McKinsey in the family-law case, expressed sorrow over the death and criticized media coverage that she said focused on sensational aspects of the dispute. The case highlights the complexity of the ongoing family-law proceedings, which included court-monitored visitation visits just weeks before the fatal incident.