Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Dead After Murder-Suicide, Fairfax Police Say [WATCH]

Former Democratic Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife before taking his own life early Thursday morning, according to the Fairfax County Police Department, as reported by Fox News.

Police said the incident occurred shortly after midnight at the couple’s home, where Fairfax, 45, and his wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, had been living despite being in the midst of divorce proceedings.

Authorities confirmed that the couple’s two teenage children were inside the home at the time of the shooting.

BREAKING: Former Democrat VA Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax SHOT AND KlLLED his wife last night in their home, before turning the gun on himself, per NBC

Their two children were home at the time.

Absolutely HORRIFIC.

Pray for these kids today. They lost BOTH parents today

h/t… pic.twitter.com/deRcKDSSHY

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 16, 2026

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis provided details during a press conference, stating, “Justin Fairfax shot and killed – shot several times – and killed his wife, ran to a different part of the home and then killed himself with the same firearm he just got unseen.”

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Police said they received a 911 call from the couple’s teenage son shortly after the incident began. Officers responded to the home and found both Justin Fairfax and his wife deceased.

The son of former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax called 911 after Justin allegedly shot his wife and then himself. https://t.co/ksDx8eVPQr

: Broadcastify pic.twitter.com/UYkb12zC5s

— TMZ (@TMZ) April 16, 2026

Investigators said the couple had been involved in a contentious divorce, although they remained under the same roof. Davis noted that several cameras had been installed inside the home as part of the divorce proceedings.

According to police, Fairfax had previously contacted authorities in January, alleging that his wife had assaulted him. Investigators later reviewed footage from the home and determined the allegation was unfounded.

“Fairfax called us to their home back in January and alleged that his wife assaulted him in the home, we were able to go to those cameras and determine that the alleged assault never occurred,” Davis said.

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“The allegation that Mr. Fairfax made in January that Mrs. Fairfax assaulted him was proven to be untrue,” he added.

Davis said that the January call was the only prior time police had been to the Fairfax residence.

Authorities said the two children present in the home during the shooting were not physically harmed, but described the situation as deeply traumatic.

“It is a traumatic event for … those children to live through,” Davis said.

Fairfax served as Virginia’s 41st lieutenant governor from January 13, 2018, to January 15, 2022, under Gov. Ralph Northam. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Annandale, Virginia.

His political career was impacted by sexual assault allegations that emerged in 2019, when two women accused him of misconduct. Fairfax denied those allegations at the time.

One accuser alleged that he forced her to perform oral sex in 2004 during the Democratic National Convention in Boston, according to prior reporting.

Authorities said Fairfax used the same firearm in both shootings. Police have not released additional details about how the weapon was obtained.

Fairfax had previously voiced support for Virginia’s red flag law, which allows authorities to restrict access to firearms for individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.

“We have given commonsense tools like the ‘red flag’ law to law enforcement, the courts, and our communities to help keep our families safe even as we ensure due process and protect Constitutional rights,” he posted on X in 2022.

And, the actions we took have already saved lives.

We have given commonsense tools like the “red flag” law to law enforcement, the courts and our communities to help keep our families safe even as we ensure due process and protect Constitutional rights.https://t.co/6eXkmfFI3o

— Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) May 25, 2022

The investigation remains ongoing.

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