A judge has granted Kansas City Chiefs coach Eric Bieniemy’s son a competency evaluation after he shot his own mother earlier this week.
Mia Bieniemy was moved out of intensive care on Wednesday, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reports, after having surgery following the shooting.
A public defender has claimed Elijah, 27, is battling mental health issues and is unable to assist in his own defense.
Elijah was not present at Thursday morning’s court hearing, nor were any members of the Bieniemy family. Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, left the team’s training camp to be by his wife’s side in Virginia.
Elijah has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling.
Mia, 57, was shot in the left forearm and shoulder, which traveled across her chest, on Sunday night. She called 911 herself and was struggling to breathe.
A judge has granted Elijah Bieniemy a competency evaluation after he shot his own mother
Mia, 57, was shot in the left forearm and shoulder on Sunday night in Virginia
NBC Washington earlier this week showed footage from neighbors of armed police breaking into the Bieniemy home in Virginia on Sunday evening. Three officers were then filmed carrying an injured woman out of the home.
Elijah, 27, is being held by police without bond. Another court hearing is scheduled for August 31.
Video obtained by Fox 5 DC on Monday showed Elijah in handcuffs standing against a squad car for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Bieniemy has been excused indefinitely from his work with the Chiefs, a job he returned to in the offseason in a move that had spread excitement among the Kansas City team.
‘Eric’s a big part of this,’ Reid added. ‘We love having him here, but it’s important that he takes care of business and everybody knows that. Eric will be back soon enough to jump in there and do his thing, but he’s got to take care of that first.
‘We stay in touch with him and keep him abreast of everything that’s going on. He’s got the tape that he can watch in whatever spare time he’s got there.’
Travis Kelce was one of the first Chiefs stars to welcome Bieniemy back, saying on his New Heights podcast: ‘He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player.’
As it stands, there is no timeline on when Bieniemy is expected to return to the Chiefs as they build up to the 2026 campaign, which begins on September 14 at Arrowhead Stadium against AFC West rivals Denver Broncos.
