The couple accused of gunning down their son-in-law in a crowded California sports park are still sitting in Santa Rita Jail, held without bail, waiting for their first formal court appearance.
Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, have been in custody since Saturday afternoon, when witnesses say they calmly walked away from the scene of the shooting at Dublin Sports Grounds. Police arrested them minutes later near a black sedan, and they were booked into Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder and a string of other felonies.
They are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning, where they will formally face charges including first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, and child endangerment. It remains unclear whether either has obtained legal representation.
Why They’re Being Held Without Bail
The decision to hold Zhang and Chen without bail reflects the severity of the charges and the nature of the alleged crime. Prosecutors have not yet presented their case to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, which means formal charges are still pending.
The additional charge of child endangerment, tacked onto the booking records, suggests authorities believe the violence may have put others at risk. The shooting occurred at a busy youth sports complex on a Saturday afternoon, with families and children nearby.
The Family They Left Behind
The couple’s daughter, Candice Jang, has not been charged with any crime. Attempts to reach her by phone have been unsuccessful, and her attorney has not commented publicly.
Jang and McKinsey were scheduled to appear in court this Friday for a custody hearing regarding their three young children, ages 3, 5, and 7. That hearing will not happen as planned.
McKinsey was killed just a week before the next scheduled court date in their divorce case.
What Happens Wednesday
The arraignment will be the first time Zhang and Chen appear before a judge to hear the formal charges against them. It will also be the first indication of whether they have legal counsel and how they intend to plead.
Beyond Wednesday, the case will likely hinge on electronic records, text messages, emails, and location data, as investigators try to reconstruct the family’s history and determine what led two elderly parents to allegedly commit murder in broad daylight.
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