A New York Times executive was shot dead in California, with police arresting his wife’s elderly parents in connection with the killing.
Jonathan McKinsey, 40, director of engineering for the New York Times’ Games Player Experience division, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a parking area in Dublin, a city about 56 kilometres east of San Francisco.
Police arrested McKinsey’s parents-in-law, 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, shortly after the shooting. Both have been charged with first-degree murder and several other offences.
McKinsey was found outside the Dublin Sports Grounds at around 3 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Witnesses told local television station KGO-TV that they heard several gunshots in succession before seeing a man lying on the ground.
“I saw the man fall to the ground. There was blood on his head and chest,” witness Asad Rajavi said.
A police officer who was passing near the scene arrested the elderly couple within minutes of the shooting. Witnesses said the pair remained in the vicinity after the attack.
Police pronounced McKinsey dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the killing.
Zhang and Chen are being held at Santa Rita Jail. In addition to first-degree murder, they face charges including felony conspiracy, negligent discharge of a firearm and child endangerment.
It was not immediately clear whether the couple had retained lawyers. They are expected to appear in court on Wednesday for a formal arraignment.
The New York Times has confirmed McKinsey’s death.
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