A Pennsylvania doctor was killed and his wife critically injured after an intruder allegedly entered their home in the middle of the night and attacked the couple as their two children were urged to escape, authorities said.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, and his wife were found seriously wounded inside their Edgewood home shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday. But amid the chaos, investigators learned of one detail that has become part of the effort to understand what led to the attack: Evans reportedly called the alleged intruder by his first name.
Couple Attacked While Sleeping
According to Allegheny County Police, Evans and his wife had been asleep in their third-floor bedroom when 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway allegedly entered the residence through a rear window.
Authorities described extensive damage inside the bedroom, including broken furniture and mirrors.
Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph characterized the scene as extremely violent.
Court records cited by local media allege Hemingway repeatedly made references to God and claimed to be God during the incident.
Evans and his wife attempted to defend themselves, according to the account his wife later gave investigators. During the struggle, she shouted for their children, ages 8 and 12, to get out of the house.
Both children escaped physical injury.
Evans was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife was also hospitalized and remained in critical condition.
One Detail Raises Questions About a Possible Connection
Suspected killer Elijah Hemingway is placed into the back of an ambulance after he was found hiding behind a nearby home following his deadly attack.WPXI
Investigators are now examining whether Evans and Hemingway may have known each other before the incident.
According to Joseph, Evans’ wife told investigators that her husband called the alleged intruder “Elijah” during the confrontation, appearing to recognize him by name.
She, however, reportedly did not know Hemingway.
Authorities said Hemingway claimed he had been invited into the residence, but investigators reportedly had not found evidence supporting that assertion.
Police emphasized that they had not yet established whether there was a preexisting relationship between the two men.
During the incident, Hemingway also allegedly demanded the wife’s car keys and took them.
Suspect Found Near Neighboring Home
After leaving the Evans residence, Hemingway was tracked by a police K9 to a nearby property, where officers found him with cuts to his hands, authorities said.
He was transported to a hospital and subsequently charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass.
Court records show Hemingway had previously been arrested in July in connection with burglary and theft allegations stemming from February and had been released on nonmonetary bail.
Hospital Community Mourns Dr. Evans
Evans was a pediatric critical care physician and served as co-medical director of the Pediatric Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He was also an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh said their community was deeply saddened by his death, describing Evans as a dedicated caregiver and valued member of both institutions.
The suspected killer was transported to a hospital and hit with a slew of charges including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass.WPXI
As his wife recovers and investigators continue working to establish what happened before the alleged break-in, one unanswered element remains particularly significant: why Evans apparently knew the first name of the man police say entered his home that night.