Trans New York Times exec hired ‘hitman’ to ‘get rid’ of his mother-in-law before she allegedly executed him: attorney

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The transgender New York Times executive who was allegedly gunned down by his in-laws had previously hired a hitman to “get rid of” his mother-in-law, her defense attorney has claimed.

Jonathan McKinsey was shot dead at Dublin Sports Grounds on Sept. 26, allegedly at the hands of his elderly in-laws, 77-year-old Shili Chen and 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang, who are charged with murder.

But their defense attorney has now revealed a potentially explosive twist in the case, claiming McKinsey previously hired a gunman to take out Chen, according to KRON4.

Curtis Briggs, who represents Chen, made the allegation Monday while speaking to reporters outside an Alameda County courthouse.

According to Briggs, McKinsey had once enlisted a “hit-man” to “get rid of” Chen — a claim that could shed new light on the bitter family conflict preceding the deadly encounter.

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McKinsey had arrived at the Dublin park that September afternoon to spend time with his children as part of a mandatory, court-ordered visitation arrangement.

Instead, the visit ended in tragedy.

Authorities have charged both Chen and Zhang with killing their son-in-law, while the defense’s latest allegation raises new questions about what may have fueled the deadly confrontation.

The claim that McKinsey hired a hitman has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear what evidence, if any, supports the attorney’s account.

The explosive accusations surfaced the same morning the elderly couple appeared in court alongside their defense attorneys and a Mandarin interpreter, where both pleaded not guilty to murder.

Chen was visibly shaking as she clutched court documents during the arraignment.

Outside the Dublin courthouse, Briggs claimed the couple had purchased firearms in March 2026 because they were terrified of their son-in-law, insisting the weapons were intended for protection, not a premeditated killing.

“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 hit man, and two more recently by making comments that he was going to get rid of her,” Briggs told reporters.

The attorney maintained that Chen and Zhang never plotted to kill McKinsey, but had grown increasingly fearful as tensions within the family spiraled.

“(Chen) was essentially a live-in nanny for the family, and Mr. McKinsey was extremely hostile, violent. The divorce continued to deteriorate the dynamics of the family,” Briggs said.

The shocking allegations add another layer to an already bitter family feud involving accusations of domestic violence, child abuse and hostility toward McKinsey’s transgender identity.