New York Times Games Executive Jonathan McKinsey Fatally Shot in California; In-Laws Arrested in Investigation
Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old engineering executive at The New York Times, was fatally shot Saturday afternoon in a parking lot at the Dublin Sports Grounds in Dublin, California, authorities said. McKinsey was the director of engineering for New York Times Games and had worked for the company since January 2023.
Dublin police said an officer discovered McKinsey shortly after 3 p.m. on September 26, 2026, after seeing a man lying in the parking lot. Officers found him suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Around the same time, police received multiple 911 calls from witnesses reporting a shooting.
Police subsequently arrested two people who remained near the scene. They were identified as Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, a married couple whom investigators identified as McKinsey’s parents-in-law. Both were taken to Santa Rita Jail and are being held in connection with the killing.
Local reports citing police and witnesses say the suspects were allegedly wearing masks when the shooting occurred. Witnesses helped police locate the pair shortly afterward. Authorities have not publicly confirmed all details of the witness accounts, including precisely who fired the weapon. Police have said there are no other outstanding suspects and no known continuing threat to the public.
The investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of a complicated family and legal dispute. Court records cited by multiple news organizations indicate that McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang, were involved in divorce and child-custody proceedings. Both had sought protective orders against the other, while McKinsey was also facing misdemeanor allegations involving child endangerment and injury to a child. McKinsey pleaded not guilty to those allegations.
Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the shooting. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the family dispute and the events immediately preceding the killing, but any connection between the legal proceedings and the shooting remains an investigative matter rather than an established conclusion.
McKinsey had a substantial technology career before joining The New York Times. Reports say he previously held engineering positions at companies including Splunk, Oracle and UKG, and he earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He also had experience teaching computer science.
The New York Times confirmed McKinsey’s position and employment but has not publicly commented on the circumstances surrounding his death. The newspaper’s Games division is a major part of its digital business, making McKinsey’s role particularly significant within the company’s technology organization.
The two suspects are scheduled for court proceedings as the investigation continues. Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact Dublin Police Services. Investigators have not indicated that the case is closed, and further details are expected to emerge through court proceedings and the continuing police investigation.
