Elderly couple plead not guilty to shooting son-in-law to death at California park

Key Points:

• Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstance of lying in wait in the killing of their son-in-law, Jonathan McKinsey, with their defense claiming they acted out of concern for their safety and that of their grandchildren.
• Prosecutors allege the couple premeditated the attack by waiting in a parking lot in Dublin, California, to shoot McKinsey, who was involved in a contentious divorce and custody dispute with their daughter.
• The defense stated McKinsey had previously threatened Chen’s life multiple times and that the couple purchased firearms for self-defense, insisting their actions were not cold-blooded or premeditated.
• McKinsey had a history of legal issues including child abuse charges and was involved in a bitter custody battle with his wife, Candice Jang, who has not been charged in connection with his death.
• Police reports indicate Zhang admitted to shooting McKinsey, and the couple was arrested after witnesses reported the shooting and identified them; they face potential life sentences without parole if convicted.