Virginia ex-Lt. Gov. Fairfax and wife killed in apparent murder-suicide amid divorce
Virginia ex-Lt. Gov. Fairfax and wife killed in apparent murder-suicide amid divorce
Former Virginia lieutenant governor Fairfax and his wife were found dead at their Annandale home in a murder-suicide amid a messy divorce, police say.
In Annandale, Virginia, a deadly tragedy unfolded Thursday morning as former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and his wife Cerina Fairfax were found dead inside their home. The couple had been in an ongoing and reportedly messy divorce, according to police.
Fairfax, 47, is accused to have shot his wife several times in the basement before turning a weapon on himself in a upstairs bedroom, Fairfax County police said at a press briefing. Their teenage son called 911, prompting officers to respond to the residence. The investigation is ongoing, with investigators reviewing details from the scene as they work to determine a complete timeline of events.
Fairfax, who served as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022, has previously drawn national attention in connection with sexual assault allegations raised by two women in 2019 during his time in public office. Those accusations were investigated, and no charges followed. Police noted that cameras inside the home were reviewed during the investigation, and authorities stressed that this current incident is being treated as a domestic tragedy tied to the couple’s divorce.
The broader community has expressed shock and grief over the loss, underscoring concerns about domestic violence and the need for support for families navigating fraught separations. Officials emphasized respect for the family’s privacy as investigators continue to gather details and construct a fuller picture of what led to the incidents at the Annandale home.
