Police Say Photos of New York Times Games Executive Were Defaced at In-Laws’ Apartment

Investigators found four photo albums containing defaced images of Jonathan McKinsey in the apartment of his in-laws, according to newly revealed court documents reported by KRON4. The documents allege that 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang had been targeting McKinsey, a 40-year-old engineering director for The New York Times Games, before he was fatally shot last month in Dublin, California.

McKinsey was at Dublin Sports Grounds for a court-ordered supervised visit with his three children when he was killed. Zhang and his 77-year-old wife, Shili Chen, have both been charged with first-degree murder, with a special circumstance alleging they were lying in wait. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The documents say detectives found four albums during a search of the couple’s one-bedroom apartment. Chen’s attorney, Curtis Briggs, wrote that one photograph had black marks and dots drawn on McKinsey’s chest and near his right eye, in places that appeared consistent with where he was later shot.

Chen has said she did not know about her husband’s alleged plan and was in the car when Zhang began firing, according to the report. However, surveillance footage reportedly shows her approaching McKinsey and firing seven shots while he was on the ground. Her attorney argues that Zhang had already fired multiple shots before Chen arrived and says she fired after hearing gunfire because she feared her husband was in danger.

Police say Zhang confessed to the shooting and claimed he feared for his grandchildren, alleging McKinsey was violent toward them. The killing took place amid a contentious divorce and child-custody dispute between McKinsey and his estranged wife, Candice Jang. Court records show the couple had made mutual allegations of abuse. McKinsey had also accused his in-laws of transphobia, while Jang’s 2025 restraining-order request alleged abuse by McKinsey.

Briggs has filed a motion seeking Chen’s release on bail, arguing she had no knowledge of a planned shooting. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 23, 2026.

Sources: TMZ.