Investigators say the November attack followed months of threats and stalking after a breakup.
SAN RAMON, CA — A Union City woman is accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy as he walked his dog in a San Ramon neighborhood on Nov. 23, 2025, an act investigators say was revenge against the boy’s father after a short-lived romance ended.
Prosecutors in Contra Costa County have charged 40-year-old Xiaojie Zhang with attempted murder, stalking, child abuse and criminal threats. Court filings describe a pattern of harassment toward the teen’s family after the father ended the relationship in September. The case has moved from the initial arrest and arraignment phase into pretrial proceedings, with no preliminary hearing date set as of mid-January. The teen survived a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Authorities say digital records, recovered firearms and witness statements tie the suspect to the shooting, which rattled a normally quiet residential block.
Police were called to Talavera Drive around early evening on Nov. 23, where first responders found the San Ramon Valley Fire crew treating the teen for a single wound to the upper shoulder. The victim told a local TV crew the day after the attack that he at first thought an object was thrown, then realized it was a gunshot and ran. A neighbor, Brielle Book, said she helped the teen and later called the allegations in court papers “wild and shocking.” Detectives said the shooter fled but was identified within hours. Officers served an arrest warrant later that night at a home in Union City and took the suspect into custody. The teen was treated at a hospital and released.
According to court documents, the father and Zhang dated for a few months before he broke off the relationship in September. Records say she repeatedly threatened to harm the family and appeared uninvited at their home and the father’s workplace. In one exchange two weeks before the shooting, she allegedly told the father, “If you don’t marry me, I will kill all five of us,” a statement investigators believe referred to the teen, his father, a sibling, Zhang and her child. Detectives said they later recovered two handguns from her residence and that she had purchased firearms in August and October. License plate and mobile data placed her car near the block at the time of the attack, according to the case file.
Neighbors described the area off Talavera Drive as a suburban loop where families walk dogs after dinner. Book said she still sees the teen outside and that his physical recovery appears steady, though she worries about the emotional toll. The boy told journalists he had seen his father’s former girlfriend at a soccer game earlier that day wearing glasses and clothing similar to what he observed during the attack. Police have not alleged that anyone else was involved, and they have not identified the teen by name due to his age. Authorities have not publicly recovered a fired round from the street, and they have not said whether any home security cameras captured a clear image of the shooter’s face.
The District Attorney’s Office first announced a five-count felony complaint on Dec. 17, 2025. Zhang pleaded not guilty in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez and remains jailed. The DA said in December that bond was set at $1,675,000. Separate court records filed in January list her bail as $3.3 million. The complaint includes firearm enhancements that could add significant prison time if a jury convicts, including allegations of intentionally discharging a gun causing great bodily injury and using a firearm during an attempted murder. Prosecutors also filed a stalking count tied to another confidential victim, as well as a child abuse charge related to the danger posed to a minor.
Police and prosecutors say the next step is a preliminary hearing where a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. The DA’s office said a hearing would be scheduled after the winter court calendar opens, and Zhang waived the 10-day time limit at arraignment, meaning the defense has more time to review discovery and file motions. A brief court appearance was scheduled for Wed., Jan. 14, for status updates, with a formal preliminary hearing date still to be set. If the case is bound over, it would move into plea negotiations or a trial setting conference in the spring.
On Talavera Drive, small details lingered after the crime scene tape came down. Porch lights stayed on later than usual in the days after the shooting, residents said. Book recalled guiding paramedics to the sidewalk where the teen collapsed and said she has checked in with the family when she sees them outside. “Physically he looks better,” she said, adding that neighbors are trying to keep routines normal while the case works through court. Police have not announced any additional patrols, but residents said they are watching more closely during evening walks.
As of Thursday, Zhang remained in custody in Martinez while attorneys prepared for the next hearing. The teen continues to recover, and investigators said the evidence review is ongoing. A preliminary hearing date is expected to be set at the next court session.
Author note: Last updated January 15, 2026.