Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Kills Wife in Murder-Suicide, Police Say
Police said the shooting came amid “what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce.”
Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax has killed his wife and himself in a murder-suicide, police say.
Fairfax County Police said they were called to an address on the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive in Annandale on Wednesday night, where the bodies of a man and a woman were found.
In a press conference, police said that preliminary investigations suggest that Fairfax shot his wife, Dr. Cerina W. Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself.
“I’m here to confirm the identity of our shooter in this murder-suicide that happened several hours ago as former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis told reporters at the scene. “Former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife inside of their home and then shot and killed himself.”
Justin Fairfax and his wife were going through a divorce at the time of the alleged murder-suicide.
Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Davis added that the investigation is part of an “ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce.” Fairfax had just been served with paperwork related to an upcoming court proceeding.
The couple has two teenage children together. Both children were at home at the time of the shootings, but they were not harmed.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Davis added Fairfax shot his wife “several times” in the basement of the house before going to the bedroom to take his own life with the same firearm.
The couple, who were separated but living together, got married in 2006.
Fairfax, a Democrat, served as the lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022 under then-governor Ralph Northam. In 2019, he faced calls to resign after being accused of sexual assault. Fairfax denied the allegations and served out his term.
He went on to run for Virginia governor in 2021, but finished fourth in the Democratic primary.
“At one point in time, I think it’s fair to say that Justin Fairfax, before he was lieutenant governor, while he served as lieutenant governor, and even afterward, was a rising star politically, not just in Northern Virginia, but in Virginia,” Davis told reporters.
“It’s tragic in nature, certainly a fall from grace, for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had had a lot of things going in their favor,” he added. “So tragic for the children to lose both parents, extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred.”
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis updating the press on the double shooting.
Fox5
Police were called to the home in January after Justin Fairfax alleged that he had been assaulted by his wife.
Officers examined surveillance footage from inside the property and determined that the allegations Justin Fairfax made against Cerina were untrue.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…