Justin Fairfax, a former lieutenant governor of Virginia, shot and killed his wife Cerina Fairfax before turning the gun on himself, police have said. The incident occurred at the couple's home in Annandale, Virginia, shortly after midnight on Thursday, with their teenage children present in the house.
Fairfax, 47, served as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022 under Ralph Northam. His political career was derailed in 2019 when two women accused him of sexual assault, allegations he denied. He later mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2021, finishing fourth with 3.54% of the vote.
Police chief Kevin Davis described the killings as part of an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding a complicated divorce. Court documents obtained by the Washington Post revealed that Fairfax had been consumed by alcohol and isolated from family in recent years. He purchased a gun in 2022, and on one occasion left home with the firearm and a packed suitcase before being found by his wife and relatives in a park.
Davis said Fairfax had been served paperwork related to an upcoming court proceeding shortly before the shooting. In January, police responded to a call from Fairfax claiming his wife had assaulted him, but after reviewing footage from cameras installed inside the home, officers determined no incident had occurred. A judge had set a 30 April deadline for Fairfax to move out and granted Cerina primary custody of their two children.
Journalist Sophia Nelson, a friend of Fairfax, expressed devastation for the children, saying her friend was depressed and in darkness. 'Cerina did not deserve what Justin did to her,' Nelson said. She added that Fairfax had told her he needed help to prove his innocence. The couple's two teenage children called 911 and are now with relatives.
