Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills his wife and then himself, police say
Police say the deaths stemmed from a divorce dispute, and the couple’s two children were home when the shootings occurred.
- On Thursday, April 16, 2026, former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, in their Annandale home before killing himself. Police discovered both bodies shortly after midnight following a 911 call.
- Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis stated the tragedy stemmed from a domestic dispute tied to the couple's "complicated or messy divorce." Justin had recently been served court paperwork for an upcoming proceeding.
- Cameron and Carys, the couple's teenage children, were present but unharmed, with Cameron placing the 911 call. Davis noted that home camera footage proved Justin's January allegation that Cerina assaulted him was untrue.
- Victim services staff are providing urgent care and support to the children, whose well-being remains a primary concern. The Fairfax County Police Department continues an active criminal investigation into the incident.
- Despite serving as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022, Justin's career was marked by denied 2019 sexual assault allegations. Observers noted irony in his past advocacy for "red flag" gun laws following the murder-suicide.
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Friends Of Justin Fairfax Were 'Concerned' About Behavior Before Murder-Suicide That Left Him And Wife Cerina Dead
By Elizabeth Ayoola ·Updated April 17, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax, 47, and his wife, Cerina Fairfax, DDS, 49, were found dead in their Annandale, Virginia, home on April 16. Authorities have confirmed the deaths as a murder-suicide.According to police, the former public official fatally shot his wife, a successful dentist, before turning the gun on himself during the early mor…
Ex-Virginia Lt. Gov. fatally shoots wife before dying by suicide, police say
Justin Fairfax Death: Former Virginia Governor Kills Wife Cerina Fairfax, Dies by Suicide Amid Divorce Battle
Former Virginia Lt Governor Justin Fairfax shot dead his estranged wife Cerina Fairfax before killing himself at their Annandale home. The tragedy came weeks before a court deadline in their divorce case, highlighting rising tensions and his declining mental health. Justin Fairfax Death: Former Virginia Governor Kills Wife Cerina Fairfax, Dies by Suicide Amid Divorce Battle.
The death of two well-known figures in the Virginia community has shaken the Washington DC metropolitan area and reopened difficult conversations about domestic violence, mental health, and impact on families. Virginia's former deputy governor, Justin Fairfax, reportedly murdered his wife, Cerina Fairfax, and then committed suicide at his home in Annandale, according to police. His two children were inside the house when the crime occurred, amid…
The former Lieutenant-Democratic Governor of Virginia had been accused by two women of rape and sexual assault in the 2000s.
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