About a month after both she and her husband were taken into custody for the purported murder of their son-in-law, Shili Chen has made some claims in recent legal documents, suggesting that her husband is the one who should be held responsible.
Chen, 77, along with Shouyong Zhang, was arrested on September 26 for allegedly shooting Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old New York Times executive, in a busy park in Dublin, California.
According to new bail papers, Chen’s legal team asserts that she witnessed her husband shooting McKinsey from the passenger seat of their car at the Dublin Sports Grounds, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Chen’s attorney, Curtis Briggs, contended that she exited the car only to protect her husband from what she believed was an assault from McKinsey. However, surveillance footage reportedly shows her firing a weapon at McKinsey after Zhang had already shot him.
Chen’s lawyers argue that she was kept unaware of Zhang’s intentions, suggesting that he had a plan to murder McKinsey without her knowledge.
Days following the incident, Zhang allegedly confessed to killing McKinsey after viewing the video evidence, as noted in court documents.
He reportedly told police he instructed Chen to drive to the park but did not clarify the reason for their trip, according to the Chronicle.
Prosecutors accuse the couple of having waited for McKinsey at the park before the shooting occurred, but Chen’s lawyer maintains that the evidence does not substantiated such claims.
This particular allegation has resulted in the couple being held without bail.
Both Chen and Zhang are seeking to be released before their trial.
In another filing, Zhang’s public defender argued that, given his age and health, he does not pose a danger to the community, emphasizing that the shooting was a one-time family matter.
Chen’s legal representative claims that she wasn’t the “actual killer” because she shot McKinsey after he was already incapacitated.
Multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire at the Dublin Sports Grounds came in before a police sergeant arrived and found McKinsey lying there with several gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses directed police to a black Honda Civic leaving the parking area, which led to a high-risk traffic stop nearby, as mentioned in court documents.
Chen was behind the wheel and allegedly had a firearm with her at the time of her detainment, while Zhang was in the passenger seat.
Three witnesses identified both Chen and Zhang as the shooters; surveillance video purportedly captured them firing at McKinsey together.
Police indicated that the couple shot recklessly in a crowded park parking lot, disregarding public safety, even with children present.
Additionally, a search of the Honda revealed a second weapon, which Zhang allegedly admitted using in the shooting.
The legal complaint states that the homicide involved “great violence” and showed a “high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.” It is also alleged that both were armed during the incident.
McKinsey’s death occurred amidst a contentious divorce and custody dispute involving Chen and Zhang’s daughter, Candice Jang.
McKinsey had accused Chen of directing anti-LGBTQ remarks towards him and one of his children, claiming that Zhang physically assaulted him while he was recovering from surgery. Jang, on her part, made allegations of domestic violence and child abuse against McKinsey, which he denied.
Fox News Digital examined court resources indicating that McKinsey and Jang were involved in several legal disputes at the time of McKinsey’s death, including conflicting domestic violence restraining orders, a child custody battle, and an ongoing divorce.
Jang had sought a restraining order against McKinsey in October 2025, while he filed his counter-request two months afterward. These domestic violence issues were set to be addressed in a three-day hearing scheduled for December.
