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Police say Justin and Cerina Fairfax were going through 'complicated or messy divorce'
Published Apr 16, 2026 • 1 minute read
Former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax and his wife were found dead in their home early Thursday in what police are calling a murder-suicide.
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Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said Thursday the couple’s teenage son and daughter were inside the home. The son called 911 shortly after midnight to report the shooting.
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When officers arrived at the family’s Annandale residence, the couple were found dead of gunshot wounds in separate areas of the home. Police said the same firearm was used in both shootings.
“Former lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife inside of their home, and then shot and killed himself,” Davis told reporters at the scene.
Couple were in ‘messy divorce’
Davis said Fairfax, 47, was recently served paperwork by his 49-year-old wife Cerina for an upcoming court proceeding in what appeared to be a “complicated or messy divorce.”
The couple were still living under the same roof despite being separated, police added. It was understood that they were sleeping in different bedrooms.
“That’s horrible news for the family, certainly a traumatic event for those children to live through,” Davis said.
Sexual assault allegations
During his tenure as the state’s lieutenant governor, Fairfax faced two allegations of sexual assault.
In January, police were called to Fairfax’s home for a report that he was allegedly assaulted by his wife.
“There are several cameras set up inside the house,” Davis said. “Apparently. Mrs. Fairfax, at some point during these divorce proceedings, set up a lot of cameras inside the home. We reviewed those cameras, and we corroborated that the alleged assault never occurred. So, there was no arrest made.”
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