In brief
In a shocking incident, former Virginia Deputy Governor Justin Fairfax is reported to have killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life. The tragic event unfolded at their Annandale home, with their teenage children present. Authorities indicate that the motivation may be related to ongoing marital issues. Fairfax, the second black person elected to statewide office in Virginia, had previously been the subject of two sexual assault allegations during his tenure.
A former deputy governor of Virginia and his wife were found dead at their home on Thursday morning, in what authorities described as a murder-suicide.
Investigators say Justin Fairfax shot his wife multiple times before turning the gun on himself at their Annandale home. Both of the couple's teenage children were at home when the incident occurred.
Fairfax, the second black person elected to statewide office in Virginia, served as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022. His tenure was overshadowed by two allegations of sexual assault, accusations he denied.
County police chief Kevin Davis said the murder-suicide appeared to stem from marital problems, though the investigation remained ongoing.
This has been an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce.
Fairfax County authorities responded to an emergency call from the former deputy governor's son just after midnight local time, and the caller said he thought his mother had been stabbed.
Investigators found bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax's body and said there was no prolonged confrontation before the shooting. I think it all kind of happened at once, said the police chief. There wasn't a pause... it all happened pretty spontaneously.
Police said the couple had been living together but were separated. This is certainly a fall from grace for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going for them, Davis said. Tragic for the children to lose both parents. Extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred.
Political leaders have expressed shock at the deaths and sympathy for the family. Former Governor Ralph Northam, who worked with Fairfax, expressed his devastation over the news, having had the privilege of getting to know the Fairfaxes while their families served together.
Fairfax ran for Virginia governor in 2021 but lost in the primary election.
- If you've been affected by issues in this article, help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. In the UK, a list of organisations that can help is available at BBC Action Line.
