**Excerpt:** Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life in a tragic incident at their home.
Key Points:
– Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then himself in a murder-suicide at their Annandale, Virginia home.
– The couple’s teenage children were present during the incident; their son called 911.
– Fairfax and his wife were in the early stages of divorce proceedings.
– The police reported no prolonged confrontation prior to the shootings.
– Fairfax had previously faced allegations of sexual assault during his political career.
Incident Overview
Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, and subsequently took his own life in a murder-suicide at their home early Thursday morning, according to Fairfax County police. The tragic event occurred just after midnight in Annandale, Virginia.
Details of the Incident
Police reported that Justin Fairfax shot his wife several times in the basement of their residence before moving upstairs where he subsequently shot himself. Both of their teenage children were present in the home at the time of the incident. Reports indicate that their son called 911, initially believing his mother had been stabbed. However, upon arrival, police discovered bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax’s body and later found Justin Fairfax upstairs with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Ongoing Domestic Issues
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described the event as traumatic for the children and confirmed that the couple was living separately while going through a complicated divorce process. Cerina Fairfax had filed for divorce in July of the previous year, and Justin Fairfax had recently been served with divorce papers.
Davis stated, “This has been an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce.” He noted that the shootings appeared to have occurred without a prolonged confrontation, describing it as a spontaneous incident.
Background on Justin Fairfax
Justin Fairfax, 47, served as Virginia’s 41st lieutenant governor from 2018 until 2022. His political career was marred by allegations of sexual assault, which he claimed were consensual. Fairfax and Cerina Fairfax met while attending Duke University.
This incident marks a significant and tragic fall from grace for a family that was once considered prominent in Virginia politics.
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