77-Year-Olds Charged with Ambush Murder of NYT Executive in Dublin

Key points

• Zhang and Chen were charged with murder and 'lying in wait' for killing McKinsey on September 26.
• Surveillance video showed the couple firing at McKinsey in a parking lot near children.
• Zhang admitted to shooting McKinsey; Chen invoked her Miranda rights during questioning.
• The shooting occurred during a contentious divorce and custody battle involving three children.
• McKinsey had filed restraining orders alleging abuse and anti-LGBTQ+ slurs by his in-laws.

Background

This case follows a year of escalating legal conflict between McKinsey and his wife, Candice Jang. Court records from 2025-2026 show competing domestic violence restraining orders and child custody disputes. McKinsey, a transgender man, alleged his in-laws directed slurs and physically abused him during medical recovery. Jang countered with allegations of physical violence and child endangerment by McKinsey. A divorce hearing was scheduled shortly after the shooting.

How outlets are covering it

Fox News emphasizes the 'lying in wait' charge and Zhang's admission, highlighting the ambush nature of the crime. The New York Times focuses on McKinsey's professional role and the immediate police response. The Guardian stresses the premeditation aspect and the potential life sentence. The Mercury News provides the most detailed account of the underlying family conflict, detailing specific abuse allegations from both sides, including physical violence and anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, and notes that McKinsey was facing misdemeanor charges for child endangerment at the time of his death.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lethal potential of domestic and family disputes, particularly when intertwined with legal battles over custody and abuse. It also underscores the risks faced by transgender individuals in hostile family environments, as McKinsey's allegations of transphobic abuse by his in-laws were central to the pre-shooting conflict. The 'lying in wait' charge signals prosecutors' intent to pursue maximum penalties for what they characterize as a premeditated ambush.

What to watch

Zhang and Chen are held without bail at Santa Rita Jail. Their arraignment is scheduled for October 1. If convicted, they face life in prison without parole due to the 'lying in wait' special circumstance. The divorce and custody proceedings involving McKinsey and Jang will likely be affected by his death, though the specific legal outcomes for the children remain pending.