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# Trans man allegedly shot dead by in-laws suffered anti-trans abuse, court records claim
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/trans-man-allegedly-shot-dead-by-in-laws-suffered-anti-trans-abuse-court-records-claim/
- Published: 2026-09-30T09:54:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-30T09:59:09.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: North America

A trans engineering director at *The New York Times* who was allegedly shot dead by his elderly in-laws in California had previously accused them and his estranged wife of anti-trans abuse, according to court documents filed as part of a bitter divorce and child custody dispute.

**Jonathan McKinsey**, 40, was killed at a sports park in Dublin, California, on Saturday. Two 77-year-old suspects, understood to be his estranged wife's parents, are due to make their first court appearance on Wednesday in connection with the shooting.

McKinsey, who headed engineering for the *New York Times* **Games Player Experience** team, had made a series of allegations against his wife and her parents in court filings connected to the couple's increasingly contentious separation.

According to the documents, McKinsey claimed his father-in-law punched him in the chest while he was recovering from a double mastectomy, and alleged that his wife attempted to pull medical tubes from his chest shortly after the operation. In another incident, he accused her of striking him with a frying pan.

The filings also contain allegations of transphobic abuse. McKinsey claimed his mother-in-law called him "a pervert" and accused him of influencing one of his children to wear dresses.

The court records paint a picture of a deeply fractured family relationship, with both McKinsey and his wife seeking restraining orders against one another and making competing accusations of abuse involving both each other and their children.

The case had already attracted legal attention before McKinsey's death. His wife had accused him of slapping their six-year-old son and leaving a bruise, leading prosecutors to charge him with misdemeanour child cruelty and corporal injury to a child. He had been due to appear in court on 2 October but was killed before those proceedings could take place.

The shooting itself has stunned local residents, not least because it allegedly took place in broad daylight at a sports complex frequented by families and children.

Former FBI profiler **Candice DeLong** described the case as "one of the strangest murders I've ever seen", after reports emerged that both suspects allegedly fired at McKinsey before remaining at the scene until police arrived.

Speaking about the allegations, DeLong suggested the suspects appeared unconcerned about being caught despite the presence of numerous witnesses.

Investigators are also expected to examine whether anyone else had knowledge of the alleged plot. While court documents reportedly suggest the two suspects coordinated their actions on the day of the shooting, DeLong said it remains unclear whether their daughter had any prior awareness of their intentions.

The suspects have not yet been publicly identified because they have not been arraigned.

McKinsey had reportedly attended parenting and anger management classes during the legal dispute. One instructor cited in court records said they believed the programmes had the potential to improve child safety outcomes.

The investigation into the killing remains ongoing.