Chiefs assistant coach Eric Bieniemy is facing a family crisis after his 27-year-old son was arrested in Virginia and accused of shooting his own mother inside a home, authorities said.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to a shooting late Sunday in Ashburn, Virginia. When they arrived, they found 57-year-old Mia Bieniemy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to a hospital and was listed in stable condition as of Monday, officials said.
Authorities later arrested Elijah Zion Bieniemy, the son of Eric and Mia Bieniemy, in connection with the shooting. He has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling.
Elijah is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
The shocking arrest comes as Eric Bieniemy has been back with the Kansas City Chiefs preparing for the upcoming season. He was reportedly with the team at practice in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Sunday before news of the shooting became public. He was not present for Monday’s workout.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the situation with reporters Monday and offered support for Bieniemy and his family.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy and his family,” Reid said.
“He’s got a great support group here as a family, as needed. And then we’ll just let time take care of it from there,” Reid added.
Bieniemy returned to Kansas City as offensive coordinator after Matt Nagy left to join John Harbaugh and the New York Giants. His return marked a major reunion for the Chiefs, where he previously served as offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022.
During that stretch, Kansas City had one of the most explosive offenses in football, leading the NFL with 30.1 points per game, according to CBS Sports Research.
After leaving the Chiefs, Bieniemy spent the 2023 season as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. He then served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA in 2024 before spending the 2025 season as running backs coach for the Chicago Bears.
The investigation into the Virginia shooting remains ongoing. Authorities have not released additional details about what allegedly led up to the gunfire.