California Woman Accused of Killing Son-in-Law in Dublin Park Blames Husband in New Bail Filing

Shili Chen, 77, who was arrested with her husband in Dublin, California, over the shooting of their son-in-law, has claimed in new legal documents that her husband fired the fatal shots. The claim was made in a bail filing about a month after the couple's arrest, according to reports.

Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang were arrested on September 26. Police allege that they shot their 40-year-old son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, in a crowded park in Dublin. McKinsey was a New York Times Games engineering executive.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Chen's lawyers claim in the filing that she watched her husband fire the fatal shots at McKinsey from inside her car. The shooting took place at the Dublin Sports Grounds.

Chen's lawyer, Curtis Briggs, argued that Chen only got out of the car to protect her husband from what she feared was an assault by McKinsey, the California Post reported. She was allegedly seen on surveillance video firing a gun at McKinsey after Zhang fired the shots that killed him.

Chen's lawyers also argued that she was kept in the dark while Zhang planned McKinsey's murder. Zhang allegedly told police he asked his wife to drive to the park but did not explain why, according to the Chronicle.

Prosecutors, on the other hand, accused the couple of lying in wait at the park for McKinsey. That special circumstance has been used to hold the couple without bail. Chen's lawyer claims there is not enough evidence to prove that allegation.

Both Chen and Zhang are asking for pretrial release. In a separate filing, Zhang's public defender argued that he did not pose a threat because of his age and health and because the shooting was an isolated family incident. Chen's lawyer argues that she was not the actual killer since she shot McKinsey when he was already dead.

Several 911 callers reported gunfire at the Dublin Sports Grounds before a Dublin Police Services sergeant arrived and found McKinsey lying face up with multiple gunshot wounds, the filings state. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses pointed police toward a black Honda Civic leaving the parking lot, leading officers to conduct a high-risk traffic stop nearby. Chen was driving and allegedly had a firearm in her possession when she was detained, while Zhang was in the passenger seat. Three witnesses identified Chen and Zhang as the shooters, according to the filings.

Police said the couple started shooting in a crowded park's parking lot with blatant disregard for public safety, even as several children were nearby. Police later searched the Honda and recovered a second firearm that Zhang allegedly admitted using in the shooting. The complaint alleges the killing involved great violence and acts showing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness, and that both defendants were armed or used a weapon.

McKinsey's killing came amid a bitter divorce and custody battle with Chen and Zhang's daughter, Candice Jang. Court dockets reviewed in the reporting showed competing domestic violence restraining order cases, a child custody dispute and a pending divorce were all under way when McKinsey was killed.