A 40-year-old Union City woman has pleaded not guilty to attempting to kill a 17-year-old who was walking his dog on Nov. 23, 2025.
SAN RAMON, Calif. — A woman targeted a 17-year-old boy in San Ramon and shot him in the shoulder during a November evening dog walk, according to newly filed court documents that say the attack was revenge against the teen’s father after a breakup.
Prosecutors have charged 40-year-old Xiaojie Zhang of Union City with attempted murder, stalking, child abuse and making criminal threats in the Nov. 23 shooting on a residential street. Zhang entered a not guilty plea during an arraignment in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez in mid-December. The filings outline a brief relationship between Zhang and the boy’s father, followed by alleged threats in the weeks before the attack. The case is now moving through pretrial proceedings while investigators and attorneys prepare for additional hearings. The teen survived with a non-life-threatening shoulder wound, authorities said.
Police say the gunfire erupted around 6:20 p.m. on Talavera Drive, not far from Bollinger Canyon Elementary School, as the teen walked his dog along the sidewalk. The boy told officers he heard a “loud boom” and at first thought something had been thrown at him before realizing he’d been shot. Neighbors rushed to help and called 911. “That is definitely wild and shocking,” neighbor Brielle Book said, describing the moment residents learned a teenager had been struck steps from their homes. Officers and firefighters arrived within minutes and found the boy conscious with a single wound to the upper shoulder. He was taken to a hospital and later released.
According to the charging documents and investigative summaries, Zhang had previously dated the victim’s father and allegedly made a series of threats after the relationship ended. In one exchange described in the filings, she allegedly warned, “If you don’t marry me, I will kill all five of us,” a statement investigators say referred to the father, both of his children, the suspect and her young child. Records say the father reported earlier harassment and stalking, and police documented at least one threat within two weeks of the shooting. The filings do not indicate that the handgun used in the attack has been publicly traced to a purchase or theft, and authorities have not detailed how the shooter arrived or fled the neighborhood. The teen’s name has not been released because he is a minor.
San Ramon police responded with patrol officers, detectives and crime scene technicians, who processed the block for shell casings, surveillance video and witness accounts. The initial police summary noted a single shot striking the teen and a description of the suspect consistent with Zhang. Detectives linked the incident to the earlier threats reported by the family. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office later filed a five-count felony complaint. Zhang was arrested and booked, then appeared in court for arraignment, where a judge advised her of the charges and potential penalties. Officials have not publicly disclosed whether she remains in custody or posted bail, and no protective order details were immediately available beyond standard no-contact restrictions.
Neighbors said the location — a quiet subdivision near a school, parks and walking paths — added to the alarm. Parents told reporters they have shifted routines, while others emphasized it appeared to be a targeted dispute rather than a random attack. Several residents left small notes of support for the teen and his family. “You never expect to hear something like that on a Sunday night,” said a nearby homeowner who asked not to be named. “We saw the lights, heard the sirens, and then people started texting that it was a kid.” The school district referred questions to police and prosecutors, noting that classes were not in session at the time and the incident occurred off campus.
The court case began with the Dec. 16–18 arraignment window and is now in pretrial status. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek additional enhancements beyond the attempted murder count. A preliminary hearing date had not been publicly posted as of this week. If a preliminary hearing is set, a judge would decide whether there is enough evidence for Zhang to stand trial. Prosecutors said they will present witness testimony, threat logs and neighborhood camera footage, if available. Defense filings had not outlined an alternative narrative in the public docket. Any future motions could address bail, evidence suppression, or limitations on statements made to detectives.
While the boy’s injury was described as non-life-threatening, the incident renewed concerns about personal disputes spilling into public spaces. Residents noted that the street sees heavy evening foot traffic from families and dog walkers. Police said they increased patrols after the shooting and reminded residents to share video with detectives. No additional victims were reported, and officers said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the broader community beyond the people involved. The family has not issued a formal statement, though friends described the teen as recovering at home and hoping to return to normal routines.
As of Tuesday, the investigation remains active and the court calendar is expected to add a hearing date in the coming weeks. Authorities said additional updates will be released after filings are entered and served to both sides. The boy continues to recover, and the neighborhood has resumed its usual rhythms, with parents and students passing the same corner where police marked evidence the night of the shooting.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.