California Couple Plead Not Guilty in Son-in-Law's Park Killing

A fatal shooting at a public park in Dublin, California, has led to first-degree murder charges against Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, who pleaded not guilty Monday to killing their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey. The case stems from a bitter divorce and child custody dispute involving McKinsey and his estranged wife, Candice Jang.

An Alameda County judge also unsealed key prosecution records Monday after an attorney representing The New Yorker challenged the decision to keep the case documents confidential. McKinsey, 40, was shot on Sept. 26 while families with children were nearby at Dublin Sports Grounds, according to local reporting and police statements.

Prosecutors allege that Chen and Zhang waited in a parking lot before attacking McKinsey. Police said witnesses reported seeing a black Honda speed away after the shooting, and officers later pursued the vehicle and arrested the couple. Investigators said Zhang admitted shooting McKinsey during questioning.

The defendants face the possibility of life imprisonment without parole if convicted. Their attorneys have indicated they intend to seek their release from custody.

Chen's attorney, Curtis Briggs, disputed the allegation that the shooting was planned and described his client's concerns about her safety and grandchildren.

"My client was absolutely concerned for her own life and also concerned for her grandchildren," Briggs told NBC Bay Area.

Briggs said the couple had witnessed something disturbing during McKinsey's supervised visit with his children, although he did not explain what they saw. He also alleged that McKinsey had threatened Chen's life three times through a hired killer and said the couple purchased firearms in March because they feared for their safety.

Briggs rejected the prosecution's characterization of the defendants as deliberate killers.

"They are not cold-blooded killers. They didn’t premeditate anything," Briggs told NBC Bay Area.

Authorities have described the shooting as a serious threat to public safety because it occurred in a crowded park parking lot where children were present. According to an arresting officer, the defendants carried out the shooting despite the presence of families nearby.

In a separate development, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Diane Meier ordered the release of previously sealed records in the prosecution. The order overturned an earlier sealing decision by another judge whose identity has not been disclosed.

Benjamin Murray, an attorney representing The New Yorker, asked the court to make the filings public, arguing that the case was a matter of public interest. The unsealing order covers the criminal complaint, probable cause declarations and minute orders, but does not extend to affidavits used by Dublin police to justify searching Jang's home.

The public defender representing Zhang has raised concerns about his health while he remains at Santa Rita Jail. The defense said the 77-year-old is physically frail, vulnerable to illness and showing signs of dementia and other age-related conditions.

"He’s 77 years old and has never been in trouble with the law. He is physically frail and vulnerable to illness, particularly while incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail," the public defender’s statement says.

The defense also said it was examining whether Zhang's health conditions contributed to the events leading to McKinsey's death. Chen's attorney separately indicated he would seek her release.

Court records describe a prolonged and contentious marriage between McKinsey and Jang, who began dating in 2008 and married in 2011. They had three children, and both sought custody amid competing allegations of physical and psychological abuse documented in separate restraining order petitions.

McKinsey, who worked as an executive in The New York Times' gaming division, had recently filed for divorce and was scheduled to appear in court during the week he died. He was facing two misdemeanor charges involving alleged child endangerment and corporal injury to a child and had been released on $50,000 bail while seeking entry into a mental health diversion program.

McKinsey also accused Jang's parents of transphobia and alleged that they directed homophobic slurs at one of the children, according to court filings. Jang has not been charged in connection with his death.

A bail hearing for Chen and Zhang was scheduled for Nov. 4, followed by a pretrial hearing on Nov. 23.