Pittsburgh Doctor Idris Evans Killed, Wife Injured in Attack
- Idris Evans, a 46-year-old pediatric critical care physician and medical director in Pittsburgh, was killed and his wife was critically injured after a man broke into their Edgewood...
- Officers responded to the Edgewood home shortly after 12:30 a.m.
- Police apprehended the suspect shortly after the incident with the assistance of a canine unit.
Dr. Idris Evans, a 46-year-old pediatric critical care physician and medical director in Pittsburgh, was killed and his wife was critically injured after a man broke into their Edgewood home and attacked them in their bed early Thursday. According to the Allegheny County Police Department, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway, entered the Linden Avenue residence through an open rear window just after midnight, making his way to the third floor where the couple slept.
Attack in Edgewood Home Claims Life of UPMC Physician
Officers responded to the Edgewood home shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, after receiving reports of a stabbing. First responders discovered Dr. Evans and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds in a third-floor bedroom described by Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph as a very graphic and violent scene, with broken furniture and shattered mirrors. According to a criminal complaint and court paperwork, the couple woke up to find a man wearing only underwear attacking them with a kitchen knife. Dr. Evans and his wife fought back to the best of their ability while the mother yelled for their children, ages 8 and 12, to flee to a neighbor’s house. The children escaped safely and were unharmed. During the assault, the mother reported that the intruder made repeated utterances about God, while her husband addressed the attacker as “Elijah,” though she did not recognize the assailant herself.
Suspect Apprehended and Hospitalized Following Manhunt
Police apprehended the suspect shortly after the incident with the assistance of a canine unit. Authorities located Elijah Hemingway hiding behind a nearby home in an unmanicured area of a garden belonging to neighbor Sandra Trappen. Police said Hemingway had bleeding lacerations and large slices on his hands and was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into custody. Hemingway faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, and criminal trespass, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. Court records indicate that the alleged attack occurred just a week before Hemingway was scheduled to appear in court for an earlier Pittsburgh burglary case in which he had been released on a nonmonetary bond. Investigators have not yet established a motive or determined whether Hemingway had a prior relationship with Dr. Evans, though police noted the wife did not know the suspect.
Tributes From UPMC and Community Support
Dr. Evans served as the medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and as an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In a statement released Thursday, UPMC expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating,
Dr. Evans was a dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time.
UPMC The Edgewood Borough Police Department issued a statement addressing the impact of the tragedy on the small, close-knit community. Authorities encouraged residents to check on neighbors, friends, and family members who may be feeling shaken, anxious, or distressed in the wake of the violent event.