Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke out after the arrest of Elijah Bieniemy, the son of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is charged with shooting his mother in the family’s home.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy and his family,” Reid, 68, told reporters on Monday, July 27, at the Chiefs’ practice facility in St. Joseph, Missouri. “Thoughts and prayers are with them. I can’t get into details on it, but things happen sometimes. Eric will work through it. He’s got a great support group here, as does his family, as needed. We’ll let time take care of it from there.”
Reid said he found out about the shooting on the evening of Sunday, July 26. He noted there is no timetable for Bieniemy’s return to the team.
“There’s always a blessing in there somewhere,” Reid said. “I know things will work out.”
Elijah, 27, is facing felony charges after his mother, Mia, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Sunday night. Reid confirmed that Mia is currently in “stable” condition, and called her “a saint.”
“We all know that, the people that know her,” Reid said. “One of God’s good blessings right there. A really special person.”
He added, “Time will have to be involved in this to help heal a little bit. But it will all work out in the long run.”
Elijah was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling, according to a press release from the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
He was transported to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center where he remains held without bond.
Reid said Eric and Mia’s other son, Eric Jr., is currently safe.
Police responded to a shooting at Northpark Drive in Ashburn, Virginia, at 7:32 p.m. on Sunday, where an “adult female” was found with “serious injuries.” ESPN reported that the woman was Mia, who had been shot in the chest and arm.
Mia was transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to the press release.
In a statement to Us on Monday, the Chiefs said that they are “aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family.”
“Out of respect for their privacy, we won’t have a comment at this time,” the organization said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Eric rejoined the Chiefs in January, after the team moved on from previous offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy. He had previously been on the Chiefs’ coaching staff from 2013 to 2022.
