A doctor at a Pittsburgh children’s hospital was fatally stabbed and his wife was critically wounded after a man allegedly broke into their Pennsylvania home and attacked the couple as they slept early Thursday, police said.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, died in the attack at his home in Edgewood, according to the Allegheny County Police Department.
His wife was in critical but stable condition Thursday, police told News Outlet.
Allegheny County 9-1-1 received a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of Linden Avenue at 12:31 a.m. Emergency responders arrived to find Evans and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds, police said.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Dr. Idris Evans worked as a pediatric critical care physician. (Google Maps)
Evans was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh.
Based on witness interviews, detectives determined that Hemingway allegedly entered the home and attacked Evans and his wife while they were asleep, police said.
According to court documents obtained by KDKA, Evans’ wife told investigators that she and her husband woke up to a man attacking them in bed with a kitchen knife. She said the attacker was wearing only underwear and made remarks about “being God,” the outlet reported.
Allegheny County police are investigating the stabbing death of Dr. Idris Evans in Edgewood, Pa. (iStock)
During the assault, Evans’ wife shouted for the couple’s children, ages 8 and 12, to leave the house and go to a neighbor’s home, according to KDKA.
She also told investigators that Evans called the attacker “Elijah,” suggesting he may have known him, the outlet reported.
“We do not know if there was any pre-existing relationship,” Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said, according to KDKA. “The woman did not know this male. We are trying to determine if the two males knew each other.”
A K-9 unit from the Monroeville Police Department searching the neighborhood located Hemingway behind a nearby home, where he had cuts on his hand, county police said. Hemingway remained hospitalized Thursday while awaiting transfer to the Allegheny County Jail, police told News Outlet.
Hemingway faces charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass, police said. There were no updates to the charges Thursday, police told News Outlet.
A Pittsburgh children’s hospital doctor was stabbed to death and his wife critically injured after a man allegedly entered their home and attacked the couple. (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, File)
Investigators have not disclosed a motive. Police told News Outlet that determining a possible motive and whether Hemingway knew Evans remained part of the ongoing investigation.
Evans served as medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He was also an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, according to his university profile.
“The UPMC and University of Pittsburgh community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Idris Evans, a pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh,” a UPMC spokesperson told News Outlet in a statement.
“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. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
