Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Jonathan McKinsey was shot to death in the parking lot of a sports complex in Dublin, east of San Francisco on October 26, 2026. Jonathan was a trans man.

The Crime

Jonathan was pronounced dead at the scene after being found by a Dublin Police Service (DPS) sergeant with multiple gunshot wounds in the middle of a parking lot shortly after 3 p.m. on September 26.

A police sergeant was driving nearby and saw him on the ground as witnesses began calling 911 and pointing out the couple, who were still near the scene, 

McKinsey’s in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, were arrested and charged.

Jonathan and his estranged wife Candace Jang were living separately and had been married for more than a decade prior to filing for divorce last December. Their impending divorce and custody case over their three children was described as volatile and contentious.

Multiple incidents of violence were reported by both, stretching back years and including abuse and neglect of their children.

Jonathan’s heritage was Taiwanese, both of his parents live there now. At the time of his death, he was 40 years old. Jonathan worked as the head of engineering for NYT Games since January 2023.

Jonathan was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkley.

He and his wife had been together for approximately twenty years. They had three young children aged 3, 5, and 7.

Context

Jon McKinsey is the 29th person whose death we’ve memorialized in 2026. He is the third trans man on this list and the second person from California. Jon is the 17th trans person of color and the second Asian American and Pacific Islander

29 people are on this list. 18 of them are BIPOC trans siblings. 13 were Black, two were Latina, one Asian-American and one was Pasifika. Eight were white, the identity of one is unknown as of now. We talk a lot about disproportionate impact – here is the evidence for those who doubt.

Earlier this year, we reported on the death of Dannielle Spillman. In 2025, we reported on Linda Becerra Moran, Sabrina Gonzales Vasquez, Blair Lumpkins Crabb, Jay Floris, and Hope Lyca Youngblood. In 2024, Meraxes Medina, Michelle Henry, and Paris Rich Jessup. From 2023, Banko Brown, Kylie Monali, DéVonnie J’Rae Johnson, and Thaddeus ‘Tad’ Keegan Bradley. And in 2022, Cherry Bush and Day Rodas. From 2021, Rayanna Pardo, Natalia Smüt Lopez, Poe Black / Oliver Jackson, and Nikai David. In 2020, Marilyn Cazares and Kimberly Fial. From 2018, Viccky Gutierrez. And in 2016, Jasmine Sierra, Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum.

This case is incredibly complicated, requiring a careful acknowledgment of the allegations of abuse involving both Jon and Candace, especially abuse of the children. My heart breaks for those little ones – their lives have been ripped apart in horrific ways. They are the victims there is no doubt. And they have no guilt, just tremendous loss.

Still, Jon did not deserve to be hunted down like an animal by anyone especially his extended family. There are allegations that his wife and her parents did not support his transition. It seems odd that they would suddenly shoot him in a transphobic rage, but it is likely the divorce proceedings involved his gender identity. I’m speculating though.

This series acknowledges that all trans folx deserve to live in peace without fear for their lives. Holding Jon accountable for crimes he committed is not the role of his in-laws.

And now we have a toxic stew of anti-trans rhetoric mired in heinous stereotypes about Asian-Americans and Asian people in general. None of that is helpful, certainly not for these children.

Rest in power, Jon. I hope you were the man your children deserved as their father. None of you deserve this violence.

May your memory be a revolution.

---

Deaths reported in 2026

These individuals are part of the trans community including transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and gender creative folx. Please do not share this content without attribution. Thank you

1. Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-Mccray – Petersburg, Virginia. March 13, 2026. Age 42.
2. Davonta Curtis – Chicago, Illinois. April 5, 2026. Age 32.
3. Dannielle Spillman – San Francisco, California. April 16, 2026. Age 74.
4. Aleanna Royal Belcher – Binghamton, New York. April 17, 2026. Age 31.
5. Lucas Redbeard Knapp – Candy Kitchen, Cibola County, New Mexico, April 18, 2026. Age 39.
6. Hailey Singleton – Dunnellton, Florida, May 5, 2026. Age 29.
7. Lanessa Rodriguez – Ft Pierce, Florida, April 28, 2026. Age 35.
8. Jade Roberts – Houston, Texas, January 2, 2026. Age 25.
9. Paris Harris – Dallas, Texas, April 17, 2026. Age 21.
10. Eryka Caldwell – New York, New York, May 17, 2026. Age 41.
11. Nathaniel Potts – Eldorado, Illinois, May 20, 2026. Age 16.
12. Persia Amarra Conway – Houston, Texas. Date unconfirmed. Found on May 26, 2026. Age 33.
13. Juniper Blessing – Seattle, Washington. May 8, 2026. Age 19.
14. Marlow Trottie – Alexandria, Louisiana. June 8, 2026. Age 35.
15. La’Daijah Walters – Mobile, Alabama. June 22, 2026. Age 32.
16. William ‘Ike’ Eickholt – Hastings, Minnesota. February 1, 2025. Age 74.
17. Kayonna Ankeny – Augusta, Georgia. February 5, 2023. Age 30.
18. Asia Williams – Baltimore, Maryland. June 23, 2026. Age 38.
19. Haley Brook Terry – Mobile, Alabama. April 6, 2025. Age 20.
20. Jayla McGee – Belle Glade, Florida (presumed). July 5, 2026. Age 19.
21. Cormac Robinson – Carrollton, Georgia. October 15, 2025. Age 24.
22. Patti Wilson – Grand Junction, Colorado. June 19, 2026. Age 31.
23. Juju Nadeau – Portland, Maine. August 5, 2026. Age 21.
24. Sophie Lee – Baltimore, Maryland. September 11, 2026. Age 27.
25. Jonathan McKinsey – San Francisco, California. September 26, 2026. Age 40.

Other Deaths

We are following these cases, but cannot confirm the details right now.

• Kalena ‘Peaches’ Croskey – Birmingham, Alabama. June 11, 2026. Age 35.
• Daniella Analee Escobedo – Las Vegas, Nevada (unconfirmed), April 12, 2026. Age 34.
• Name Unknown – Charlotte, North Carolina. Found on May 21, 2026. Date of death unknown. Age unknown.
• Leia Trysiss Ali – Las Vegas, Nevada. May 24, 2026. Age 35.