Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax killed his wife and himself during a domestic dispute linked to a contentious divorce, leaving behind two teenage children who were present in the home.
Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life in their Annandale home early Thursday morning. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis reported that the couple’s two teenage children were inside the residence at the time; their son placed the 911 call after finding his mother bleeding in the basement. Officers arrived shortly after midnight to find Cerina with multiple gunshot wounds and Justin in the primary bedroom with a self-inflicted wound to the head.
Authorities stated the shooting was the culmination of a “messy” divorce proceeding and an ongoing domestic dispute. Court records show Cerina filed for divorce in July 2025, and Justin had been ordered to appear in court on April 21, just days from the incident. Investigators are currently reviewing footage from cameras installed inside the home as part of the divorce proceedings, which reportedly captured the lead-up to the tragedy.
Fairfax, a Democrat who served from 2018 to 2022, saw his political career clouded by sexual assault allegations in 2019, which he consistently denied. In the years following his term, he faced mounting financial pressure, including default judgments for over $29,000 in unpaid bank debts. The children are currently being cared for by their grandparents while the community grapples with the violent end of a high-profile family.