Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Wife Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife and self in their Annandale home amid a messy divorce. Police confirm the couple's children were present.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from New York Post

Domestic Violence Escalates to Fatal Tragedy

The Fairfax County Police Department responded to a residence in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive shortly after midnight on Thursday. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and his wife, Cerina Fairfax. Preliminary investigations indicate that the former politician shot his wife multiple times in the basement of the home before moving to another area of the residence and turning the weapon on himself.

Teenage Children Present During Violent Incident

According to Police Chief Kevin Davis, the couple's two teenage children were inside the home when the shooting occurred. It was the couple's son who placed the initial emergency call to 911, reporting that his mother had been injured. Responding officers found Cerina Fairfax unconscious and bleeding, and they subsequently located Justin Fairfax in a different part of the house deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Background of a Contentious Legal Separation

The fatal encounter appears to be the culmination of a deteriorating relationship and ongoing legal battles. Investigators revealed that the couple was in the early stages of divorce proceedings, and Justin Fairfax had recently been served with legal paperwork related to the split. Although they resided in the same household, they were living in separate bedrooms and were described by local authorities as being involved in a messy and complicated divorce.