Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before killing himself inside their home in Annandale, according to Fairfax County police.
Police went to the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive after midnight Thursday morning and found a man and woman dead inside of a home. A preliminary investigation found that Justin Fairfax shot his wife before shooting himself, police said.
Both of the couple’s teenage children, a boy and a girl, were home at the time of the shooting, Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a press conference. The son called 911. Grandparents, other family members and the victim services division of the police department were with their children as “their wellbeing is a primary concern,” Davis said.
Police found that Justin Fairfax killed his wife in the basement of their home and then went to the primary bedroom upstairs and killed himself, with the same gun.
He recently was served with paperwork telling him when next to appear in court. This could have been the impetus for the shooting, Davis said.
“This has been an ongoing domestic dispute, surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce,” Davis said.
In January, Fairfax called the police saying that Cerina Fairfax had assaulted him. At this time, Justin and Cerina were separated, but still living together. However, with the use of several cameras that were set up inside of the house by Cerina during the divorce proceedings, police found that the assault never occurred. The cameras were still belived to be operational during the shooting that occurred overnight, police said.
Ghazala Hashmi, the current lieutenant governor of Virginia, said in a statement that her thoughts are with the couple’s children, loved ones and numerous friends.
“Along with so many in the Commonwealth, I am filled with sorrow; I await further insights from our law enforcement officials,” Hashmi said.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger also released a statement on the shootings saying it was a “horrific tragedy.”
“Dr. Fairfax was a devoted mother, beloved dentist in the Fairfax County community, and engaged supporter of her alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University,” Spanberger said. “This tragedy reminds us that domestic violence can occur in any family and in any place.”
Justin Fairfax served as the 41st lieutenant governor from 2018-22 and was the second Black person elected statewide in Virginia. He was a Democrat who also ran for governor in 2021, finishing fourth in the primary election. In 2019, he faced sexual assault allegations dating from 2000 and 2004, which he denied. Before the sexual assault allegations, he had seemed poised for the role of governor.
Justin Fairfax “was a rising star politically — not just in Northern Virginia, but in Virginia,” Davis said.
After serving in public office, he worked as an attorney. Cerina Fairfax ran a family dentistry practice in northern Virginia. She graduated from Duke University and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.
This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Reporters from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
