Justin Fairfax, ex-lieutenant governor of Virginia, kills wife and himself
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Justin Fairfax, former lieutenant governor of Virginia, shot and killed his wife Cerina Fairfax before taking his own life amid a domestic dispute related to their ongoing divorce.
- The incident occurred at their home in Annandale, Virginia, after police received a 911 call from one of their teenage children shortly after midnight; both children were present during the shootings.
- Fairfax, who served from 2018 to 2022 and was a rising political figure, faced sexual assault allegations in 2019 that disrupted his career and led to a failed gubernatorial bid in 2021.
- Police noted a prior domestic incident in January involving allegations by Justin Fairfax against his wife, which was disproven after reviewing home security footage.
- Authorities highlighted that Fairfax had recently been served court paperwork related to the divorce, which may have contributed to the tragic event.
