Police charged a 32-year-old Pittsburgh man after Dr. Idris Evans and his wife were attacked while sleeping in their Edgewood home.
EDGEWOOD, PA — A pediatric critical care doctor was killed and his wife was critically injured after a man allegedly entered their home outside Pittsburgh and attacked the couple while they slept early Thursday, authorities said.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, died after the attack at his home in Edgewood, an Allegheny County borough just east of Pittsburgh. His wife was hospitalized in critical condition. Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh and charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass. Investigators had not announced a motive and were still trying to determine whether Hemingway and Evans knew each other.
Allegheny County police said emergency dispatchers received a report of a stabbing on Linden Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday. Officers and other first responders found Evans and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds. Both were initially taken to hospitals in critical condition, and Evans was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said Hemingway entered the home through a window and went upstairs before attacking the couple as they slept. According to court paperwork cited by local news organizations, Evans’ wife told investigators that she and her husband awoke to a man attacking them in their bedroom. The couple fought back during the attack, police said.
The couple’s children, ages 8 and 12, were also inside the house. Evans’ wife told investigators that she called for the children to leave the home and go to a neighbor’s house, according to court records. Police said both children escaped safely and were not physically injured.
Evans’ wife also told investigators that she heard her husband refer to the attacker as “Elijah,” suggesting he may have recognized him. Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said investigators had not established whether Evans and Hemingway had a previous relationship. Joseph said Evans’ wife told detectives that she did not know the suspect.
Police searched the neighborhood after the attack, and a K-9 unit from the Monroeville Police Department found Hemingway behind a nearby home, authorities said. Police said he had cuts on his hand and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being transferred for detention. Investigators subsequently charged him in connection with Evans’ death and the attack on Evans’ wife.
Authorities said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remained active. Police had not identified a confirmed motive as of Thursday. Court records cited by Pittsburgh news organizations also showed Hemingway had previously been charged in a separate burglary case earlier in 2026 and had been released on nonmonetary bond. Those earlier allegations are separate from the charges filed in the Edgewood case.
Evans was 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 School of Medicine. He also served as medical director of the hospital’s Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team. University records list Evans as a faculty member in critical care medicine.
UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh said their community was deeply saddened by Evans’ death. In a statement reported by local news organizations, UPMC described Evans as a dedicated caregiver and valued member of the hospital and university communities and expressed support for his family, loved ones and colleagues.
Hemingway remained charged with criminal homicide and other offenses as investigators continued working to determine what led to the attack and whether he had any prior connection to Evans. Evans’ wife remained hospitalized following the stabbing, while the couple’s children were reported safe.
Author note: Last updated Sept. 25, 2026.