[VIDEO]Former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax Shoots and Kills Wife Cerina Before Turning Gun on Himself Days After Being Served Divorce Papers

 

 

A shocking murder-suicide has claimed the lives of former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, 47, and his estranged wife Cerina Fairfax, 49, at their million-dollar home on Guinevere Drive in Annandale, Virginia, in a tragedy that has stunned the state's political community and beyond.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning after the couple's teenage son called 911 just after midnight to report a violent altercation between his parents. When Fairfax County Police officers arrived, they found Cerina unconscious and bleeding inside the home, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The teenager informed responding officers that he did not know his father's whereabouts. Investigators subsequently located Justin Fairfax in a separate area of the residence with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple's teenage son and daughter were present in the home at the time but were physically unharmed.

Authorities believe the serving of divorce papers, which notified Fairfax of an upcoming court appearance scheduled for the following week, may have served as a trigger for the violent act. Cerina had filed for divorce in July of the previous year, with proceedings actively underway at the time of their deaths. Despite being separated, the couple had continued living together under the same roof throughout the ongoing legal process. Divorce filings reportedly characterized Fairfax as an absent father and described issues with alcohol.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described the case as both high-profile and deeply tragic, reflecting on Fairfax's once-promising political career. He had previously been regarded as a rising political star not only in Northern Virginia but across the state.

The couple had been married for 20 years prior to the breakdown of their relationship.