Eric Bieniemy’s son to undergo competency evaluation, judge decides

LEESBURG, Va. — Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s son Elijah, who has been charged with shooting his mother at the Bieniemys’ home in suburban Virginia, “appears to suffer from significant mental health issues” and “does not appear able to assist in his own defense at the present time,” his public defender asserted in court filings.

Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, will undergo a competency evaluation after a Loudoun County judge granted his attorney’s motion at a brief hearing Thursday morning.

Elijah Bieniemy’s attorney initially filed two motions: one to evaluate his competency and another for a mental health evaluation. The latter was temporarily withdrawn. In it, his attorney wrote that he previously has been diagnosed with a “serious illness.” She said his mental state at the time of the alleged shooting will play a crucial role in his defense and that he is “indigent” and lacks the financial means to pay for a sanity evaluation on his own.

Bieniemy’s wife, Mia, was shot twice Sunday night at the couple’s home in Ashburn, Va., where they moved when Eric served as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator in 2023. Police arrested Elijah and charged him with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mia had been transferred from the ICU and her condition had shown “great” improvement. Bieniemy left Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Mo., to be with his wife, and Reid said there is no timeline for his return.

The judge moved Elijah Bieniemy’s preliminary hearing from Aug. 31 to Sept. 9, five days before the Chiefs’ season opener on “Monday Night Football” against the Denver Broncos.

Elijah Bieniemy’s mental health appears to have led to police involvement at least once previously.

Almost a decade ago, police conducted a welfare check at Bieniemy’s home in Kansas after an apparent call from Eric Bieniemy expressing concern about his son, records show.

On Feb. 10, 2017, at 2:37 a.m., a man calling from the address of Bieniemy’s home in Olathe, Kan., told police he “doesn’t know what’s going on with his son,” according to Olathe Police Department records.

The caller told police he thought his son, whom he said was 17 years old, may have taken drugs earlier and “is acting very strange.” When an officer asked if his son was being violent, the man replied he was “kind of in between.” Police came to the house, and the subject was taken to Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

The report from the incident did not name Elijah Bieniemy, who would have been 17 at the time. It listed Eric and Mia Bieniemy as parties.

In another prior run-in with authorities, in October 2022, Elijah Bieniemy pleaded guilty to driving 103 mph in a 75-mph speed limit zone and paid a $177 fine.