Photo: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Justin Fairfax, the former lieutenant governor of Virginia, and his wife, Cerina, were found dead in their home Thursday morning in an apparent murder-suicide. In a press conference outside the home in Annandale, Virginia, police said Justin fatally shot Cerina, then shot and killed himself. The couple had been in an “ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce,” according to Fairfax County’s police chief, Kevin Davis.
Police said Justin shot Cerina “several times” shortly after midnight on Thursday, then ran into the master bedroom and shot himself. Their two children, who are both teenagers, were in the house when it happened, and Davis said the son was the one to call 911. The children are now being looked after by their grandparents and other family members. “Our main concern is for their well-being right now,” Davis said.
According to Davis, Justin and Cerina were separated but still living together. Police were called to the home once before, in January, after Justin told police his wife had “assaulted” him. Police responded, but found that several cameras in the home — which Cerina apparently set up amid their separation — showed that the “assault never occurred,” Davis said. Shortly before Thursday’s incident, Justin had been served paperwork indicating when he was supposed to appear for the next court hearing in their divorce proceedings — which Davis added is “something that we’re looking at that may have led to whatever happened last night.”
Justin Fairfax served as lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. In 2019, a year into his term, he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. A second woman came forward days later, alleging he raped her in 2000 while they were both students at Duke University. Justin vehemently denied both allegations, insisting they were part of a “smear campaign” against him. He resisted widespread calls for him to resign and finished out his term. In 2021, he ran for governor of Virginia, but lost in the Democratic primary.
Stay in touch.
The latest in style, self, culture, and power in your inbox.
Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice
Related
