ANNANDALE, Va. — Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide at their home here early Thursday, Fairfax County police said.
Police Chief Kevin Davis confirmed the identities and sequence of events, saying Fairfax shot his wife multiple times in the basement of the family home before going upstairs to the primary bedroom and killing himself. The shootings occurred shortly after midnight on April 16, according to authorities.
The couple's two teenage children were home at the time. Their older son called 911 just after midnight, police said. Both children were unharmed.
Fairfax, a Democrat who served as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022, and his wife, a dentist, were in the midst of divorce proceedings. Court records showed the couple had been separated, with recent orders addressing custody and living arrangements. Details on any immediate trigger for the incident remained unclear.
Fairfax rose in Democratic politics before facing sexual assault allegations during his time in office, which damaged his career. He did not seek re-election in 2021. Dr. Cerina Fairfax maintained a dental practice in the Fairfax County area and was described by local leaders as a devoted mother and community member.
Governor Abigail Spanberger issued a statement expressing sadness over the deaths. "The murder of Dr. Cerina Fairfax in an apparent murder-suicide is a horrific tragedy," she said, adding that the family should be held in thoughts and prayers.
No other individuals were involved, and police described the case as a domestic-related incident with no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators recovered the firearm at the scene.
As of Saturday, the investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the shootings. Autopsies were pending to determine exact causes of death. No additional charges or further details on the divorce proceedings were released by authorities.
The home in Annandale remained cordoned off following the incident.
