Elderly Asian Grandparents Accused of Killing Son in Law Amid Bitter Custody Battle and Child Abuse Charges

Elderly Grandparents Accused of Killing New York Times Games Executive During Bitter Family Court Battle

Police say Jonathan McKenzie, a 40 year old engineering executive for The New York Times Games, was shot multiple times in broad daylight outside a California sports complex. His 77 year old parents in law were arrested nearby as investigators examine a family dispute involving their daughter and grandchildren.

DUBLIN, Calif. — A senior engineering executive for The New York Times Games was shot and killed in broad daylight outside a popular sports complex in Northern California, and police have arrested his elderly parents in law in connection with the killing.

Jonathan McKenzie, 40, was found Saturday afternoon suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a parking lot near the Dublin Sports Grounds, roughly 35 miles east of San Francisco. McKenzie worked as an engineering leader for The New York Times Games operation. Police identified the two suspects as McKenzie’s 77 year old father in law, Shojong Zhang, and 77 year old mother in law, Shili Chen. Both were located and arrested near the scene following the shooting. Authorities have said they are not searching for additional suspects and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

The killing is particularly striking because of the circumstances described by witnesses. ABC News reported that witnesses described a man and woman shooting McKenzie in the middle of the day before walking away from the scene. Other reporting has cited a witness who allegedly saw the male suspect fire at McKenzie before handing a firearm to the woman, who allegedly also fired. Police have not publicly confirmed that more detailed sequence, making it important to distinguish the witness account from allegations formally established by investigators.

Police Found McKenzie With Multiple Gunshot Wounds

The shooting occurred Saturday, Sept. 26, near the Dublin Sports Grounds, a large recreational complex used for community sports and activities. According to reporting on the investigation, an officer on patrol noticed a man lying on the ground as authorities simultaneously began receiving calls concerning the shooting. Officers discovered McKenzie suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, while witnesses helped authorities identify the two suspects, who were apprehended nearby shortly afterward.

Both suspects remained in custody as investigators worked to determine exactly what led to the confrontation. Police have not publicly established a motive, and the arrests do not establish the suspects’ guilt. The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors will ultimately be responsible for determining the criminal charges pursued in court.

A Bitter Family Court Dispute Forms the Backdrop to the Killing

The family relationship between McKenzie and the two people accused in his death immediately became a major focus of attention. According to ABC News, McKenzie was involved in a contentious custody dispute with his estranged wife, the daughter of the two suspects. Court records cited in news reports indicate that the couple had been involved in multiple legal proceedings concerning their relationship and the custody of their children during the year before McKenzie’s death.

The dispute included serious allegations against McKenzie. His estranged wife had accused him of domestic violence and child abuse, including an allegation that he struck their 6 year old child in the face the previous year. McKenzie had pleaded not guilty to two child abuse counts and had been released under conditions that reportedly included participation in parenting classes, according to ABC News.

Those allegations require careful context because they were unresolved when McKenzie was killed. A criminal charge or accusation does not establish guilt, and the existence of the custody dispute does not by itself establish a motive for the shooting. Police have not publicly announced that the family court case caused the killing.

Witnesses Describe a Brazen Daylight Shooting

The circumstances reported by witnesses make the case especially unusual. Rather than describing a chaotic confrontation followed by an immediate escape, witnesses reportedly told investigators they saw a man and woman shoot McKenzie and then walk away from the area. Police were able to identify and locate the suspects nearby with assistance from witnesses, and authorities subsequently said there were no additional suspects being sought and no continuing danger to the surrounding community.

The investigation will now have to reconstruct what happened before the gunfire, determine whether the shooting was planned or resulted from an encounter at the sports complex, establish who fired the weapon or weapons and determine what role prosecutors allege each suspect played.

McKenzie Was an Engineering Leader at The New York Times Games

McKenzie had built a substantial career in technology before his death. Reporting based on his professional profile indicates that he had worked with The New York Times Games organization since January 2023 in an engineering leadership role focused on user experience. Before joining The Times, McKenzie held engineering positions at technology companies including Splunk and had also listed computer science teaching experience associated with the University of California, Berkeley and Georgia Tech.

The New York Times Games division has become a prominent component of the newspaper company’s digital operation, encompassing its well known crossword products and other digital games.

The Custody Case Could Become Central, But Police Have Not Announced a Motive

The existence of a contentious custody dispute involving the suspects’ daughter provides investigators with an obvious area of inquiry, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations previously made against McKenzie. It would nevertheless be premature to characterize that dispute as the established motive for his killing unless investigators or prosecutors make that connection.

What is currently known is more limited but extraordinary: a 40 year old technology executive was shot multiple times in a public parking area in broad daylight, witnesses reportedly identified his elderly parents in law as the people involved, and police arrested both suspects near the scene. The couple remains in custody and is expected to appear in court as the criminal case begins, when charging documents and additional court records could provide substantially more information about the evidence against them.

For now, the allegations against Zhang and Chen remain accusations, and both are entitled to the presumption of innocence. The allegations previously made against McKenzie in his separate family and criminal proceedings were likewise unresolved at the time of his death.

Sources & Further Reading

ABC News — Elderly Grandparents Accused of Killing NYT Executive Son-in-Law, Police Say

ABC News — Original Video Report

Additional Reporting — Jonathan McKenzie Shooting and Arrests