A California couple has been charged with murder.

Authorities said they shot their son-in-law to death on Saturday in a public park.

The killing happened days before he and their daughter were due in court for a divorce hearing.

Shili Chen and Shouyong Zhang, both 77, were set to appear in court Wednesday for an arraignment.

Their daughter, Candice Jang, could not be reached.

She appeared virtually at Wednesday's hearing.

Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was a gaming engineer for The New York Times.

He was shot in the parking lot of a sports complex in Dublin, east of San Francisco.

A police sergeant driving nearby saw him on the ground.

Witnesses called 911 and pointed out the couple, who were still near the scene, Dublin Police Services said.

Court records show the killing came during a contentious divorce and a custody battle over three young children.

In restraining order petitions filed last year, McKinsey and Jang accused each other of abuse going back more than a decade.

McKinsey, who is transgender, alleged that Jang and her parents were verbally and physically abusive about his gender transition.

He also alleged that Zhang punched him in the chest while he recovered from surgery.

McKinsey was arrested last October and charged with misdemeanor child abuse for allegedly hitting their oldest son.

He pleaded not guilty and alleged in court records that his wife had set him up.

He was released on the condition that he complete 12 parenting classes.

At the time of his killing, he was out on bail and had been trying to enter a mental health diversion program.