Eric Bieniemy Leaves Chiefs Camp After Wife Is Allegedly Shot by Their Son
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy left the team’s training camp after his wife was allegedly shot multiple times by their son at the family’s Virginia home Sunday night.
Mia Bieniemy, 57, remained hospitalized in stable condition Monday. Sources told ESPN that she suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and arm.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the victim but confirmed that a woman was receiving treatment for “serious injuries” after being shot multiple times.
Deputies were called to a residence in the 20000 block of Northpark Drive in Ashburn, Virginia, at 7:32 p.m. ET Sunday following a report of a shooting, sheriff’s office spokesperson Leah Paul said Monday. Mia Bieniemy placed the 911 call herself after the gunfire, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told Washington, D.C., ABC affiliate WJLA.
“I’ll just say she was shot multiple times, and we have to go through an entire investigation to determine where everybody was, what they did, what prompted it, and how it all transpired. We’re conducting that investigation right now.”
Police arrested the couple’s 27-year-old son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, in connection with the shooting. He was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a firearm inside a dwelling, according to the sheriff’s office.
Elijah Bieniemy was being held without bond at Loudoun County detention center. The sheriff’s office said later Monday that the investigation remained ongoing. Authorities said they did not believe the incident posed an ongoing danger to the public. Elijah Bieniemy’s next scheduled court appearance is an Aug. 31 preliminary hearing.
Eric Bieniemy had been with the Chiefs on Sunday for the team’s second training camp practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. He subsequently left camp and was absent from Monday’s practice.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed support for Bieniemy and his family while speaking to reporters after practice.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy,” Reid said. “Mia is stable, which is a plus. We all love EB, and you hate seeing those things happen.”
Reid said the team had not established a timetable for Bieniemy’s return, emphasizing that he should take whatever time is necessary to be with his family. Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will assume Bieniemy’s responsibilities while he is away.
“We’ll just see how things go,” Reid said. “[This is] real life, you take care of that. She’s a saint, one of God’s good blessings.”
Reid continued to offer his support for Bieniemy, describing him as a beloved figure within the organization and saying the coach’s family responsibilities should take priority.
“I know things will work out. The most important thing is that EB has an opportunity to spend some time [with his family] and take care of that business. Everybody loves EB. He’s a great person. Things happen. You have to work through it, and time will have to be involved in this to help heal a little bit. It’ll all work out in the long run.”
Bieniemy returned to Kansas City earlier this year for a second stint as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. He previously held the position from 2018 through 2022 after initially joining Reid’s staff when the coach arrived in Kansas City in 2013.
Bieniemy spent his first five seasons with the Chiefs as the team’s running backs coach before receiving a promotion to offensive coordinator. During his next five seasons in Kansas City, the Chiefs advanced to three Super Bowls, won two championships and consistently fielded one of the NFL’s most productive offenses.
Despite interviewing for several NFL head coaching vacancies, Bieniemy was repeatedly passed over. He left Kansas City following the 2022 season and joined the Washington Commanders in 2023, hoping the role would strengthen his candidacy for a head coaching job.
Washington struggled that season, however, and the coaching staff led by Ron Rivera was dismissed. Bieniemy then spent one season as UCLA’s offensive coordinator before returning to the NFL last season as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach.
His return to the Chiefs reunited him with Reid and an organization where he had spent a decade as an assistant coach. His absence from training camp will continue indefinitely as he remains with his family following Sunday’s shooting.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.