ANNANDALE, Va. — Former Va. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot his wife and then himself in a domestic dispute Wednesday night, the Fairfax County Police Department said Thursday morning.
Fairfax police responded to the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive in Annandale shortly after midnight and found Justin Fairfax and Cerina Fairfax shot dead.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Justin shot Cerina before turning the gun on himself, FCPD says. Both of Fairfax's kids were in the house at the time of the incident, but were unharmed, Fairfax County Police say. Authorities went on to add that he shot his wife several times in the basement before going upstairs into a bedroom to kill himself.
"It's tragic for the children to lose both parents - extra tragic for them to be home when this occurred, so there's a lot going on," said Fairfax County Chief Kevin Davis.
Police say Fairfax was recently served paperwork for a divorce court proceeding. Authorities also mentioned that Fairfax called police back in Jan. 2026, saying his wife assaulted him. After a review of security cameras, this claim was unfounded.
AP reports that a judge on March 30 told Justin Fairfax to move out by the end of April, writing “it is clear tensions in the Fairfax home have been extremely high for an extended period of time.”
"Certainly a fall from grace for a high profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going in their favor," said Davis.
Gaylene Kanoyton, the first vice chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said she was very saddened to learn the news.
"Devastated, absolutely devastated," Kanoyton said.
"My heart goes out to the family especially the children you know they endured so much," Kanoyton said.
Justin Fairfax was a lawyer who ran for lieutenant governor in 2017 and was victorious. In his role, he presided over the state Senate.
In 2019, a scandal almost took down then-Governor Ralph Northam. During that period, it appeared Fairfax might be poised to ascend to governor. Then, in the same week, two women came forward accusing Fairfax of sexually assaulting them in separate incidents.
Fairfax always denied the allegations and was never charged. He tried to move on politically. He ran for governor, announcing his campaign during a visit to News 3 in late 2019.
"I think anyone who thinks they have something to offer to the Commonwealth of Virginia should run," he said.
He did not get the 2021 Democratic nomination. Afterward, he stayed in the public eye, including working with some of the families of the victims of the Virginia Beach mass shooting.
In recent years, he had gone quieter. He frequently used to check in with reporters, including News 3's Brendan Ponton, but Ponton had not heard from him for several years.
"Anyone who has mental health issues I want people to reach out," Kanoyton said.
His wife, Cerina, is remembered as a beloved dentist and a devoted mother. Kanoyton remembers meeting her.
"I have friends who were patients of hers and they only spoke good things of her and she was always pleasant to be around," Kanoyton said.
For now, many in the community are keeping the children in mind.
"Again, you never know what's going on in any family. But I was just talking with Tim Kaine. We were both shocked," Sen. Mark Warner said.
If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.
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