Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed wife in murder-suicide, police say

Avery Sloan, The Virginian-Pilot on Apr 16, 2026

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Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before killing himself inside their home in Annandale, according to Fairfax County police.

Police went to the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive after midnight Thursday and found a man and woman dead inside of a home. A preliminary investigation found that Justin shot his wife before shooting himself, according to Fairfax Police Captain Chris Cosgriff.

Both of the couple’s teenage children, a boy and a girl, were home at the time of the shooting, Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a press conference. The son called 911.

Police found that Justin killed Cerina in the basement of their home and then went upstairs in their home to the primary bedroom and killed himself, with the same gun.

“This has been an ongoing domestic dispute, surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce,” Davis said.

In January, Justin called the police saying that Cerina assaulted him. However, with the use of several cameras that were set up inside of the house by Cerina during the divorce proceedings, police found that the assault never occurred. The cameras were still belived to be operational during the shooting that occurred overnight, police said.

Ghazala Hashmi, the current lieutenant governor of Virginia, said in a statement that her thoughts are with the couple’s children, loved ones and numerous friends.

“Along with so many in the Commonwealth, I am filled with sorrow; I await further insights from our law enforcement officials, Hashmi said.

Justin served as the 41st lieutenant governor from 2018-22 and was the second Black person elected statewide in Virginia. He was a Democrat who also ran for governor in 2021, finishing fourth in the primary election. In 2019, he faced sexual assault allegations dating from 2000 and 2004, which he denied.

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