Former Va. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot wife, then himself inside Virginia home, police say

ANNANDALE, Va. – Authorities say former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife, Cerina, before taking his own life inside their Annandale home early Thursday.

What we know:

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said officers were called just after midnight to the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive, where they found both adults dead inside the residence.

Davis said the shootings stemmed from a domestic dispute tied to the couple’s ongoing divorce.

The couple’s two children were inside the home at the time but were not physically harmed. Davis said the teenage son called 911 shortly after the gunfire.

READ MORE: Local leaders react after death of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife

According to Davis, Fairfax shot his wife several times in the basement, then went upstairs to the primary bedroom and killed himself with the same weapon.

Davis said the couple had continued living together while separated, and Cerina had installed several cameras inside the home. In January 2026, Fairfax called police and alleged his wife assaulted him, but Davis said officers reviewed the home’s cameras and determined the assault did not occur. A report was filed, but no arrests were made.

Davis said Fairfax had recently been served paperwork related to upcoming court appearances in the divorce case. “That may have been a spark, detectives will figure that out, that led to this tragedy,” he said.

He described Fairfax as once a “rising star politically” and called the incident a tragic “fall from grace.” Davis said the department’s main concern now is the well‑being of the children.

Davis said Fairfax had returned to practicing law after serving as lieutenant governor, and Cerina Fairfax was a dentist.

In 2019, two women publicly accused Fairfax of sexual assault, allegations he denied. Meredith Watson, who attended Duke University with Fairfax, said he raped her in 2000. Vanessa Tyson, a California professor, said Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. 

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 5 for updates.