Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed his wife before taking his own life inside their Virginia home early Thursday morning, according to police.
Justin, once seen as a rising Democratic figure, allegedly shot Cerina Fairfax multiple times in the basement of their Annandale residence just after midnight, then moved to another part of the home where he died by suicide. Their two teenage children were inside at the time, and their son placed a 911 call reporting the shooting.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described the case as both high-profile and deeply tragic.
“It is high-profile in nature, 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,” Davis said. He added, “So, tragic for the children to lose both parents, extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred.”
Investigators say the couple had been dealing with a “complicated or messy divorce” while still living under the same roof. Cerina filed for divorce in July 2025 following a year-long separation, in line with Virginia law requiring couples to live apart before filing.
Davis also noted that Justin had recently been served paperwork tied to an upcoming court proceeding, which authorities believe may have intensified tensions leading up to the shooting.
There had been prior incidents at the home. Police responded in January after Justin accused his wife of assault, but that claim was later determined to be false after investigators reviewed footage from cameras inside the residence.
Justin’s political rise had stalled years earlier after multiple women accused him of sexual assault, allegations he consistently denied.
It’s unclear what led to the murder-suicide and if a note was left behind.
