Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, is believed to have called police two days before his arrest for allegedly shooting his mother at their Virginia household to say his parents would not allow him access to his firearms, according to The Athletic.
A 27-year-old calling from the Bieniemy residence on July 24 said “his parents are withholding his weapons and that he’s a certified UFC fighter so now he feels like he cannot defend himself,” per a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office report cited by the the outlet.
The individual reportedly also “kept rambling on about also having his (CPR) license and what if he cannot help,” according to the incident report cited by The Athletic.
The person reportedly told police “his parents told him he must give them his firearms if he wants to keep living in the home — and that he could have them back when he needed them,” and his parents “refuse to give (him) his firearms back when he tries to go to the range to use them.”
This undated booking photo released on Monday, July 27, 2026, by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia shows Elijah Zion Bieniemy. Bieniemy has been arrested and charged for the shooting of his mother, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office via AP
Police reportedly received three totals calls involving Elijah in the two months before the alleged shooting of Mia Bieniemy on July 26.
The calls received a Stage 3 classification from police, per The Athletic, which designated an urgent but non-life-threatening situation.
A June 1 call from a counselor from a “remote college” mentioned “is concerned for his welfare” on a person at the home who appeared to be Elijah, per the outlet.
Police reportedly determined the call did not require an “urgent” response due to a lack of access of weapons, per The Athletic.
Three weeks later, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office filed what The Athletic labeled as a “heavily redacted incident report” regarding a “suspicious circumstance” that involved two people meeting Elijah and Mai’s description at the Bieniemy’s Virginia address.
A Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office spokesperson told the The Athletic: “We have reviewed the incidents referenced in your correspondence as part of our investigation.”
Elijah is accused of shooting his mother on July 26, leaving her hospitalized with “serious injuries,” per the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
The dispatcher audio from the day referenced a 57-year-old woman being shot in the chest and arm and “unable to breathe,” with a “portion of a projectile still remaining in her body,” per the criminal complaint.
Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and wife Mia on the red carpet before the Super Bowl Championship Ring Ceremony on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The dispatcher also issued a warning about the son.
“Units be advised, the son still has the weapon currently located within the home,” the dispatcher said.
The criminal complaint said Mia called 911 herself, and Elijah was arrested outside the residence.
He was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling.
A judge OK’d a mental evaluation for Elijah last week upon a request from his public defender, with the lawyer writing in his filings that his client “appears to suffer from significant mental health issues” and “does not appear able to assist in his own defense at the present time,” according to The Athletic.
Mia has since been transferred out of the ICU and was “doing great,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid revealed last week.
The alleged shooting happened while Eric attended training camp in Missouri. He is not with the team at the moment.
“She’s doing better and great from where she was,” Reid said recently of Mia. “(She’s) out of the ICU unit and making progress, so we’re happy about that.
