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, Davis said during a briefing on Thursday morning.
Fairfax County authorities responded to an emergency call from the former deputy governor's son just after midnight local time, who reported thinking his mother had been stabbed.
Upon arriving, investigators found bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax's body and stated that there was no prolonged confrontation before the shooting.
I think it all kind of happened at once, Davis said, confirming that there seemed to be no pause before the tragic shooting.
The police reported that the couple had been living together despite being 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 stated.
Tragically, their children lost both parents in the incident, which has been labeled heartbreaking by many, given that they were present during the event.
Political leaders, including former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, expressed shock and grief over the events, highlighting the tragedy of the situation.
Fairfax had previously run for Virginia governor in 2021, but lost in the primary election.
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