Eric Bieniemy's son arrested for shooting his mother in Virginia: what is known about the shooting

Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested after a domestic shooting at the family home in Ashburn, Virginia, in which his mother, Mia Bieniemy (57) was seriously injured. Mia is the wife of Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs and a central figure in the offense that led the team to two Super Bowls. The news spread this Monday on social media — from NFL insider Ari Meirov to ABC7 and CNN—and was confirmed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and media such as CBS News and NBC4 Washington.

What happened on Sunday night

According to the Loudoun Sheriff's statement, deputies responded to a report of a shooting on July 26, 2026 at approximately 7:32 p.m. in the 20000 block of Northpark Drive in the One Loudoun area of Ashburn. Inside a home they found an adult woman with multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.

ESPN identified the victim as Mia Bieniemy and stated that she was hit in the chest and arm. On Monday morning authorities confirmed that he is in stable condition (CBS).

There were four people in the home at the time of the incident, according to court documents cited by Loudoun Now. Property records indicate that Eric and Mia Bieniemy have owned that house since July 2023, when the coach worked as offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders (NBC4).

Who is Elijah Bieniemy and what charges he faces

Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, of Ashburn, was arrested in connection with the shooting. The sheriff identified him as the couple's son. According to E! News, Elijah and his older brother Eric III are the two children of Eric and Mia; Eric III has cerebral palsy and breathing problems, which in 2021 led his father to isolate himself from the family during the NFL season due to COVID.

Elijah faces three felony charges in Virginia:

• Malicious wounding (assault with serious injuries)
• Use of a firearm in commission of a felony
• Discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling

He is being held without bail at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Loudoun Now adds that, according to court documentation, the victim was shot two and underwent surgery. Elijah does not appear to have a prior criminal record in Virginia. Authorities have not revealed the reason for the incident; the investigation remains open.

Where was Eric Bieniemy

Eric Bieniemy was more than 1,000 miles from the scene of the shooting. On Sunday he participated in the second day of the Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, on the campus of Missouri Western State University (WJLA). On Monday he did not attend training and left camp to be with his family, according to ESPN and Heavy.

Reaction of the Chiefs and Andy Reid

The team released a brief statement: "The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy's family. Out of respect for your privacy, we will not comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them" (CBS / NBC4).

Head coach Andy Reid spoke to reporters after practice on Monday. According to Heavy and ESPN, Reid said:

«Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy. Mia is stable, which is a relief. We all love EB, and you hate to see that stuff happen. It's real life. You take care of that. She is a saint, one of God's blessings. But things happen."

Reid confirmed that there is no date for Bieniemy's return. Meanwhile, passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will assume on-field offensive coordinator duties (Heavy).

Who is Eric Bieniemy in the NFL

Eric Bieniemy (56 years old) is one of the most respected offensive figures in the NFL. He was a running back at Colorado and played in the league before becoming a coach. As offensive coordinator of the Chiefs (2018-2022), the team led the NFL in points per game (30.1 average) and won two Super Bowls (LIV and LVII). After passing through Commanders, UCLA and Chicago Bears, he returned to Kansas City in 2026 (Chiefs.com).

What the neighbors say and what's next

Neighbors of One Loudoun told NBC4 that they saw one of the sons of the couple leaving the house handcuffed. One resident described the Bieniemys as "a good Christian family" who seemed to get along well; Another reported seeing Eric and Mia doing work on the exterior of the house the previous weekend.

The sheriff assured that there is no threat to the public. Anyone with information is asked to call the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office at 703-777-1021 or Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 (NBC4).

Editorial note: Elijah Bieniemy is accused, not convicted. The motive for the shooting has not been released by authorities. We will update if there is new official information.