NYT executive threatened to hire hitman to kill mother-in-law before his murder

A lawyer for Jonathan McKinsey's in-laws alleged that the slain NYT executive had threatened to get rid of his mother-in-law. The claim adds a new dimension to a murder case preceded by divorce, custody and abuse disputes.NYT executive Jonathan McKinsey allegedly threatened mother-in-law with hitman before he was gunned down.New Delhi,Oct 20, 2026 08:45 ISTA bitter divorce, a custody battle and allegations of abuse preceded the fatal shooting of a New York Times executive. Now, in a twist to the case, the lawyer defending his in-laws has claimed the executive once threatened to hire a hitman to kill his mother-in-law.Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was shot dead by a masked duo outside a sports complex in California on September 26. His septuagenarian in-laws, Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, have been charged with murder in connection with the killing.The Chinese couple pleaded not guilty last month to first-degree murder charges. Their defence attorney, Curtis Briggs, has now alleged that McKinsey had threatened Chen's life on at least three occasions."Mr McKinsey had an extremely violent record. What we found out, through investigation, is there’s been at least three occasions, where there are witnesses, that Mr McKinsey actually threatened my client’s life: Once through a hitman, and two more recently by making comments that he was going to get rid of her," Briggs told reporters, according to the New York Post. Investigators said Chen (77) was carrying a gun when she was arrested. A second firearm was allegedly found in the couple's car. Briggs said the couple bought the weapons in March for protection against McKinsey.The attorney denied that Chen and Zhang had plotted the killing, arguing that mounting tensions had left them fearful for their grandchildren's safety. "They are not cold-blooded killers," Briggs said. "They didn’t premeditate anything. There was nothing planned. They were just concerned grandparents who were afraid for their grandchildren’s safety."Briggs described the couple as loving, gentle grandparents, saying Chen was like a "live-in nanny" to the children.McKinsey, a gaming engineer at The New York Times, was embroiled in a bitter divorce and child custody dispute with his wife, Candice Jang. Both had accused the other of physical and emotional abuse.Court records show Jang reported McKinsey to police in 2023, accusing him of shoving one of their children and using rough physical discipline. In October last year, she obtained a domestic violence protection order against him after he was arrested and charged with misdemeanour child abuse in a separate case.Police said McKinsey admitted to slapping one child and also charged him with endangering another. He was out on bail at the time of his death and had been seeking entry into a mental health diversion programme, the San Jose Mercury News reported.McKinsey contested his wife's allegations by seeking a protection order against her and filing for divorce. He also sought greater access to their three children, saying he had been restricted to two hours of supervised visits a week, according to court records.In his own protection order petition, McKinsey, who was transgender, alleged that Chen had directed anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at him and one of the children. He also accused his wife of abusing him during medical procedures related to his transition.- Ends