Couple, both 77, charged with murder of son-in-law Jonathan McKinsey in Dublin, California
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, are charged with murder over the 26 September shooting of Jonathan McKinsey, 40, in Dublin, California. Court records show competing abuse allegations in a bitter divorce and custody dispute.
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The story, neutrally told
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, have been charged with murder over the shooting of their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, 40, in Dublin, California. The IndependentLC “have been charged with murder and booked into the Santa Rita Jail” Read at The Independent ↗ Hindustan TimesN “A California couple has been charged with murder” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ McKinsey, a director of engineering for New York Times Games, was found in a parking lot at the Dublin Sports Grounds just after 3 p.m. on Saturday 26 September. The IndependentLC “found his body at the Dublin Sports Grounds just after 3 p.m. on September 26” Read at The Independent ↗ Hindustan TimesN “was shot to death in the parking lot of a sports complex in Dublin” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Police say a sergeant driving nearby saw him on the ground, and witnesses pointed out the couple, who were still near the scene. Hindustan TimesN “witnesses began calling 911 and pointing out the couple, who were still near the scene” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The IndependentLC “police officers found the elderly couple nearby within minutes and took them into custody” Read at The Independent ↗
Witnesses told media the couple took turns shooting him; CBS News Bay Area reported a masked man fired and handed the gun to a masked woman. The IndependentLC “a masked man shot the victim before handing the gun to a masked woman, who also opened fire” Read at The Independent ↗ The IndependentLC “Witnesses told local media that the couple took turns shooting McKinsey.” Read at The Independent ↗ The killing came a week before a hearing in the divorce between McKinsey, who was transgender, and Candice Jang, and amid a custody fight over their three children. Hindustan TimesN “The killing occurred a week before a hearing was scheduled in McKinsey and Jang’s divorce case.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The IndependentLC “McKinsey, who was a transgender man, was killed a week before a hearing was scheduled in their divorce case.” Read at The Independent ↗ In restraining-order filings, McKinsey accused Jang and her parents of transphobic abuse, including Zhang punching him in the chest after a double mastectomy. Hindustan TimesN “He alleged Zhang punched him in the chest while he was recovering from double mastectomy surgery.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The IndependentLC “McKinsey had accused his wife and her family of transphobic abuse.” Read at The Independent ↗
Jang made counter-allegations of violence against McKinsey and his treatment of their children. Hindustan TimesN “In petitions for restraining orders filed last year, the couple accused each other of physical, emotional and psychological abuse” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The IndependentLC “our children are simply not safe when left unsupervised and in his care” Read at The Independent ↗ McKinsey had been charged with misdemeanor child abuse after an arrest last October and pleaded not guilty. He was released on condition that he complete parenting classes. Hindustan TimesN “McKinsey pleaded not guilty to the charges” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The IndependentLC “released from jail on the condition that he complete parenting classes” Read at The Independent ↗ Police have not given a motive, and one report said it was unclear whether the earlier charges were connected. The IndependentLC “Police have yet to reveal a possible motive for the shooting” Read at The Independent ↗
The couple were due for arraignment on Wednesday, and AP could not reach an attorney for them. Hindustan TimesN “were due in court Wednesday for an arraignment on the charges” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the vivid allegation that the couple took turns shooting, plus photos and the victim's abuse allegations against his in-laws.
- Emphasis
- Witness accounts, the 'first pictures' of the couple, and McKinsey's child-abuse arrest in the headline.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the arraignment or that McKinsey was granted unsupervised visits in August.
- Charged language
- “gunned down”“grim discovery”
- For example
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“was gunned down by a park in broad daylight” — The Independent
“The first pictures of an elderly couple accused of taking turns to shoot their son-in-law to death have been released.” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Agency account of the charges, arraignment and the divorce and custody background, in a measured tone.
- Emphasis
- Detailed court-record history of both sides' allegations and the custody timeline.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the witness account of the couple taking turns shooting.
- Charged language
- “bitter divorce”
- For example
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“days before he and the couple's daughter were set for a hearing in a bitter divorce case” — Hindustan Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Zhang and Chen, both 77, are charged with murder over McKinsey's death in Dublin, California.
- McKinsey, 40, worked for New York Times Games.
- Both sides of the divorce made abuse allegations in court filings.
- McKinsey had pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor child abuse charges.
Where accounts differ
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Dates of the marriage and of the alleged grabbing incident
- Left
- The Independent, citing CNN, says the couple married around 2012 and that Jang told authorities McKinsey grabbed her wrist in 2018.
- Centre
- AP (via Hindustan Times) says they married in July 2011 and that Jang alleged a 2010 incident that fractured her vertebra.
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Whether the earlier abuse case explains the shooting
- Left
- The Independent says police have not given a motive and it is unclear whether the charges were linked, though its headline ties the shooting to the arrest.
- Centre
- AP says the killing came during a contentious divorce and custody battle, and does not state a motive.
Jonathan McKinsey person
In court filings, McKinsey accused his wife and her parents of abuse tied to his gender transition, and denied the child-abuse charges.
“McKinsey, who is transgender, alleged that both Jang and her parents were verbally and physically abusive” — Hindustan Times
Shouyong Zhang person
Zhang is charged with murder. No statement from Zhang or an attorney is reported. Zhang is accused in McKinsey's filing of punching him in 2010.
“The Associated Press was not able to reach an attorney for the couple” — Hindustan Times
Left3 articles
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First pictures of elderly couple accused of taking turns fatally shooting their son-in-law
Mixed Crime-and-background piece pairing the accusation with both sides' abuse claims.
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Mixed Links the shooting to McKinsey's earlier child-abuse arrest while noting no motive is known.
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Centre1 article
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Hindustan TimesN · · via AP
California couple accused of killing son-in-law in public park have been charged with murder
Neutral AP copy carried by Hindustan Times: charges and detailed court-record background, attributed to authorities and filings.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Sep 16:26 First The IndependentLC First pictures of elderly couple accused of taking turns fatally shooting their son-in-law
- 29 Sep 17:43 +1h 17m The IndependentLC Parents accused of taking turns fatally shooting their son-in-law months after his child abuse arrest
- 30 Sep 19:55 +27h 29m Hindustan TimesN California couple accused of killing son-in-law in public park have been charged with murder via AP
- 30 Sep 20:32 +28h 6m The IndependentLC Engineer allegedly shot dead by in-laws claimed they abused him because he was transgender, court docs reveal
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.