Elijah Bieniemy, the son of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, is not scheduled to appear in court until he completes a mental health evaluation. Court documents reveal this requirement after his arrest on charges linked to a shooting incident involving his mother.
The 27-year-old was detained following an incident where his mother, Mia, was reportedly shot at their home in Ashburn, Virginia. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The charges against Elijah include malicious wounding, the use of a firearm during a felony, and firing a weapon within a dwelling. This was confirmed by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
According to Elijah’s public defender, as reported by The Athletic, Elijah exhibits considerable mental health concerns and seems unable to assist in his defense presently. This statement was included in a recent court filing.
The court has approved a mental health competency evaluation for Elijah. Meanwhile, his preliminary hearing is slated for September 9, shortly before the Kansas City Chiefs face the Denver Broncos to kick off the 2026 NFL season.
Andy Reid, the Chiefs’ head coach, provided an update on Mia, affirming that she has significantly improved. “She’s out of the ICU, which is notable,” Reid mentioned during a media session at the training camp. Eric Bieniemy is currently with her, emphasizing the importance of family support during this time.
After his arrest, Elijah was remanded to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center and denied bond. The Chiefs’ coaching staff, including Eric Bieniemy, is preparing for training camp at Missouri Western State, following the return of the veterans.
Eric Bieniemy, 56, resumed his role with the Chiefs as offensive coordinator after previous tenures with the Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, and UCLA. During his leadership from 2018 to 2022, the Chiefs’ offense was one of the NFL’s most effective, achieving multiple Super Bowl victories.
Additional insights were contributed by OutKick’s Armando Salguero and Fox News’ Ryan Morik.