Judge orders competency evaluation for Eric Bieniemy’s son in mother’s shooting case
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Elijah Bieniemy faces multiple felony charges after authorities say his mother, Mia Bieniemy, was shot inside the family’s Virginia home.
Elijah Bieniemy, the son of Kansas City Chiefs coach Eric Bieniemy, will undergo a competency evaluation as he faces serious charges tied to the shooting of his mother, after a judge granted a motion on the matter Thursday morning.
According to TMZ, the 27-year-old’s public defender argued that Elijah is grappling with mental health issues that leave him unable to assist in his own defense, prompting the request for the evaluation. Neither Elijah nor any member of the Bieniemy family appeared at Thursday’s hearing, the outlet noted, citing Fox 5.
The charges stem from a July 26 shooting at the family’s Virginia home. As reported by TMZ, Elijah was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. He remains behind bars and is being held without bond.
His mother, 57-year-old Mia Bieniemy, was struck in her arm and shoulder, with a projectile traveling across her chest, according to reports cited by the outlet. There has been encouraging news on her recovery, however. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters earlier this week that Mia is no longer in the ICU and is in stable condition.
Eric Bieniemy, a well-regarded figure in the NFL coaching ranks, has not publicly addressed the incident, and TMZ reported that it remains unclear what led to the shooting.
A competency evaluation is a standard legal step used to determine whether a defendant is mentally capable of understanding the proceedings against them and participating in their defense. It is not a ruling on guilt or innocence, nor a determination about what happened, but rather a procedural safeguard that can shape how a case moves forward.
For now, the family is left navigating a deeply painful situation privately, as Mia continues her recovery and Elijah’s case proceeds through the court system. The outcome of the evaluation will likely play a significant role in determining the next steps in the legal process.