Eric Bieniemy‘s son has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting of his mother, Mia Bieniemy. Eric currently works as an offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.
Elijah Zion Bieniemy allegedly shot his mother in the chest and arm Sunday night at the family’s home in Virginia.
The 27-year-old is being held without bond as the case progresses. It remains unclear what led to the incident.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Eric Bieniemy’s son, Elijah, has been arrested as a suspect in the shooting of his mother.
Following his arrest, Elijah was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharging a firearm inside a dwelling.
Malicious wounding is typically classified as a Class 3 felony in Virginia and carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
The charge of using a firearm in the commission of a felony carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years for a first conviction and five years for a second or subsequent conviction.
Meanwhile, discharging a firearm inside a dwelling is generally classified as a Class 4 felony, carrying a sentence of two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 upon conviction.
Elijah Bieniemy Could Face Decades Behind Bars
Altogether, Elijah could face decades in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if he is convicted.
The court could impose a more lenient sentence if he is a first-time offender and depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, it is too early to determine what sentence he might ultimately receive.
For now, Elijah is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center and may remain in custody as the case progresses given the seriousness of the charges.
According to reports, his mother suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and arm but is now in stable condition after being hospitalized.
Support Pours In For Eric Bieniemy’s Family
Online, netizens sympathized with Eric over the incident, particularly because of the emotional toll it is likely to take on him.
“Heartbreaking. Can’t imagine the weight of this for Eric, both as a coach and a father,” one user wrote.
Many also prayed for Mia’s speedy recovery as she continues to recover in hospital.
“Prayers up for Mia Bieniemy. Surviving multiple gunshot wounds is a miracle. Hopefully she makes a full recovery,” another user wrote.
A third person added, “Heartbreaking news. Wishing Mia Bieniemy a full recovery, and hoping everyone affected gets the support they need during such a difficult time.”
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Backs Eric Bieniemy Amid Family Crisis
As the investigation continues, more details about the shooting are expected to emerge in the coming days.
Regardless of the outcome, the incident is likely to take a heavy emotional toll on the Bieniemy family. Eric is also expected to receive support from his colleagues and the wider Kansas City Chiefs organization.
“These kinds of things happen, but there’s always a blessing in there somewhere,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. “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.”
Joe Bleymaier Steps In For Bieniemy
At the time of the incident, Eric was with the Kansas City Chiefs in St. Joseph, Missouri, at Missouri Western State University for the team’s second training camp practice.
He subsequently left training camp and missed Monday’s practice to attend to family matters.
The Chiefs have not set a timeline for Eric’s return. In the meantime, pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will assume his responsibilities. “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. But things happen.”