Transgender New York Times executive Jonathan McKinsey angered in-laws over son wearing girls’ dresses before he was shot dead in California

A transgender New York Times Games executive Jonathan McKinsey was apparently involved in a bitter family dispute with his elderly in-laws after allowing his young son to wear his sister’s dresses, court documents show, reports Daily Mail. Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was shot dead in a California parking lot on Saturday and his in-laws Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Both are 77.

The alleged disagreement over the child’s cloth was among several accusations detailed in court filings involving McKinsey, his estranged wife Candice Jang and her parents. Authorities have not confirmed the dispute over gender identity or the child’s clothing was the motive for McKinsey’s killing. McKinsey had been working at The New York Times since 2023 as head of engineering for Games player experience. His death has seen renewed attention to the complex family and legal disputes described in court records.

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New York Times executive shot dead in California

McKinsey was shot in the parking lot of a Dublin Sports Grounds store in Dublin, California, on Saturday. Witnesses reportedly told investigators that two masked shooters approached him and took turns firing at him before walking away. Police arrested Zhang and Chen shortly afterwards. The elderly couple now face murder-related charges, amongst allegations including felony conspiracy, child endangerment and dangerously firing a gun. The investigation into the killing remains ongoing, with police saying they are examining the histories and relationships of those involved.

In-laws allegedly angry over son wearing girls’ dresses

According to a restraining-order filing McKinsey made in 2023, Chen became upset during a visit to the family home after seeing McKinsey’s son Wyatt asking to wear his sister Alexis’ dresses. McKinsey alleged that he told his mother-in-law that it was a “phase” his son was going through. He also claimed that Chen then berated both him and the child. McKinsey alleged that Chen called Wyatt a “disgusting queer” and a “pervert” and made similar insults at McKinsey over his transgender identity.

“She blamed me for Wyatt wanting to wear his sister’s dresses and told me to get out of ‘her house’ even though we were in the home owned by Candice and I,” McKinsey wrote in the filing. He also claimed he asked Jang to arrange outside childcare so Chen would not be responsible for watching their children again, but that his request was refused.

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McKinsey and wife were involved in bitter divorce dispute

The allegations involving Chen came as McKinsey and Jang were going through a contentious divorce and custody dispute. Court filings contain competing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse from both sides. McKinsey accused Jang of abusive behaviour during their relationship, including an allegation that she once told him that “no one would want to be with someone as fed up and transgender like me.”

He also claimed in court documents that Jang assaulted him with a frying pan in 2013. Candince Jang later sought her own restraining order against McKinsey, alleging that he had “threatened to kill me and my parents.” She also accused him being violent towards her during an incident in 2018.

New York Times executive had faced child abuse charges

McKinsey was also facing misdemeanor child abuse charges at the time of his death. According to the court records described in the case, police had accused him of slapping his six-year-old son in the face, allegedly causing a large bruise like a handprint. McKinsey pleaded not guilty. He had faced another case involving allegations that a two-year-old child was left unattended while he went shopping.

McKinsey was released on $50,000 bail and was required to complete parenting classes. He was later seeking entry into a mental-health diversion program that could have seen the charges dropped after successful completion.

Family members made competing abuse allegations

The legal battle also included allegations surrounding McKinsey’s gender transition. McKinsey accused Jang of abusive behaviour during medical procedures related to his transition. He alleged she attempted to remove medical tubes from his body after one procedure and claimed her father punched him in the chest while he was recovering from a double mastectomy.

Jang disputed McKinsey’s account of their relationship and argued in court that he had a history of violence and that their children were not safe in his unsupervised care. An attorney for Jang wrote in a court filing that McKinsey “is simply prone to domestic violence and child abuse,” while Jang alleged the incidents in her complaint were “far from the first time” he had engaged in physical violence against her or her family. McKinsey denied the allegations and sought greater access to his three children.

Police have not confirmed the motive for killing

McKinsey’s killing happened just one week before a scheduled hearing in his divorce case. It remains to be seen whether Zhang and Chen were allegedly motivated by the abuse allegations, disagreements over McKinsey’s gender identity, the dispute involving his son’s clothing or another issue.

“Part of our investigation is looking for motives from all angles as well as looking at the histories and relationships of everyone involved and associated with the victim and suspects,” Dublin Police Services Captain Michael Campos said, according to the New York Post.