The son of a Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach has been charged with the shooting of his own mother, authorities in Virginia said Monday.
On late Sunday, Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s wife Mia Bieniemy, 57, was found in an Ashburn, Virginia home with multiple gunshot wounds, and she was later transported to a hospital where she was in stable condition Monday.
Elijah Zion Bieniemy, the 27-year-old son of the couple, was arrested early Monday in connection with the shooting.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after Monday’s Chiefs practice, from which Eric was absent.
“Mia is stable, which is a plus. We all love EB, and you hate seeing those things happen,” he added. HELLO! has reached out to the Chiefs for comment.
“The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family,” the Chiefs also told HELLO! in a statement. “Out of respect for their privacy, we won’t have a comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
© Getty ImagesAccording to the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Elijah has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, and is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
Eric was with the Chiefs at training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, earlier Sunday, however he was absent from Monday’s training, which was closed to the public. Coach Reid said there is no timetable on Eric’s return to the Chiefs, adding that pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will take over his duties during his absence.
Eric joined the Chiefs in 2013 as part of coach Reid’s initial staff, and spent five seasons as the running backs coach before he was promoted to offensive coordinator. He later switched to the Commanders in 2023 — hence the couple’s home in Virginia, where the shooting took place — but left after coach Ron Rivera’s staff was let go.
He only returned to the Chiefs this season to replace Matt Nagy as the offensive coordinator, and has been part of offseason workouts in Kansas City over the summer. “It’s great to have [Bieniemy] back in the building,” coach Reid said just last week. “He always brings great energy.”
© Getty Images“I’ve told you, he’s one of the more phenomenal guys I have been around at being a leader of men. He is doing that,” he continued. “He’s in there cranking — works his tail off, and I appreciate that. Doesn’t let anything slide by. Does a good job with that.”
Travis Kelce, who also joined the Chiefs in 2013 and who recently signed a two-year contract to remain with the team, celebrated getting to reunite with Eric when speaking about his decision to delay his retirement by at least two more years on The Pat McAfee Show in March. “I still love going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out and just playing the game, you know, and I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again and running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach Reid. And got my guy Eric Bieniemy, Coach Bieniemy back, and there’s a lot of pieces in Kansas City that I just absolutely love and I can’t wait to get back in the building with.”
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