Justin Fairfax Kills Wife And Himself Inside Annandale Home, Police Say

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then killed himself inside their home in Annandale, Virginia, police said.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis told reporters at a news conference Thursday morning that “Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife inside of their home and then shot and killed himself,” and that their older son called 911 just after midnight.

ABC News

NBC News reported that Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife in the basement, then went upstairs to the primary bedroom and shot and killed himself, while NBC4 Washington said he killed Cerina Fairfax in the basement before running upstairs to the primary bedroom.

The incident unfolded in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive, where NBC4 Washington reported Cerina Fairfax was found dead “shortly after midnight Thursday.”

Police tape surrounded the Fairfax home Thursday morning, and NBC News reported that “two gurneys were rolled out of the home” just before 10 a.m.

People reported that Justin and Cerina Fairfax were both pronounced dead at the scene, and that their son called 911 “shortly after midnight on April 16.”

Multiple outlets described the children as present during the shootings, with ABC News saying the couple’s two teenage children were inside the home and that their son called 911, while the Virginian-Pilot said both teenage children were home and the son called 911.

In the immediate aftermath, Davis said victim services were supporting the children, and NBC News reported that “Victim services are assisting the teenage son and daughter.”

Police said the shootings appeared to be tied to an ongoing domestic dispute involving a complicated or messy divorce, with Davis describing it as a situation that may have been sparked by recently served court paperwork.

NBC News reported that Davis described the incident as apparently part of a “domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce,” and said the couple was still living together but sleeping in separate bedrooms.

BBC

NBC4 Washington similarly said Davis described the act as occurring amid “a complicated or messy divorce,” and that Justin Fairfax had been served paperwork recently with a court date pending.

People reported that Davis said “We know that recently Mr. Fairfax was served some type of paperwork indicating when he was next scheduled to next appear in court for the ongoing divorce proceedings,” and that investigators were looking at whether that paperwork “may have led to whatever happened last night.”

New York Magazine also quoted Davis saying “That may have been a spark,” and said detectives would determine whether it led to the tragedy.

ABC News said Davis told reporters that “Former Lt. Gov Fairfax was recently served some paperwork associated with an upcoming court proceeding that apparently led to this incident last night,” and that the couple were separated but still living together.

Multiple outlets also described a prior police response earlier in January after Justin Fairfax called to report his wife had assaulted him.

NBC News said Davis stated officers corroborated “that the alleged assault never occurred” based on footage from cameras the wife installed, and NBC4 Washington said “We reviewed those cameras and we corroborated that the alleged assault never occurred.”

Investigators described how quickly the violence occurred and how the children experienced it.

“Tragedia en Virginia: Justin Fairfax, ex vicegobernador, asesina a su esposa y se quita la vida La policía de Virginia confirmó que Justin Fairfax, ex vicegobernador, mató a su esposa, la doctora Cerina Fairfax, y luego se suicidó en su hogar”

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People quoted Davis explaining that “There wasn't a pause, there was never a moment where someone was holed up in a room,” and added, “It all happened pretty spontaneously.”

NBC News reported that Davis said the older son called 911 just after midnight, and that in emergency response audio a dispatcher could be heard describing the scene, including “He has got a firearm with him, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”

ABC News said Davis told reporters the shooting took place around midnight and that the son called 911, and it described the investigation as ongoing.

NBC4 Washington said the teen son called 911 and told police his mom was bleeding and he didn’t know where his dad was, and it added that detectives used cameras installed inside the home to corroborate the sequence of events.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that police found Justin Fairfax killed his wife in the basement and then went to the primary bedroom upstairs and killed himself, with the same gun, and it quoted Davis describing the domestic dispute as “complicated or messy divorce.”

The BBC said investigators found bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax’s body and said there was no prolonged confrontation before the shooting, and it quoted Davis saying “I think it all kind of happened at once.”

Across the accounts, Davis emphasized the children’s wellbeing, with NBC News saying “Victim services are assisting the teenage son and daughter,” and with ABC News quoting Davis calling it “a traumatic event for those children to live through.”

Political and community figures reacted to the deaths, with several statements emphasizing the impact on the couple’s children.

NBC4 Washington reported that Ralph Northam, the Virginia governor during Justin Fairfax’s term, said in a statement, “Pam and I are devastated by this heartbreaking news,” and added, “I had the privilege of getting to know the Fairfaxes while our families served together.”

CBS News

The same outlet quoted Northam praying for the children “during this incredibly difficult time,” naming “Cameron, Carys, and the entire Fairfax family.”

NBC4 Washington also reported that former D.C. Council member and mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie said, “I am heartbroken beyond words,” and that “The Fairfax family and my family have been close for as long as I can remember.”

USA Today reported that Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi released a statement saying she was “filled with sorrow,” and it quoted Hashmi writing, “My thoughts are with their children, loved ones and numerous friends,” and “I’m keeping Cerina and Justin Fairfax’s children in my prayers.”

USA Today also reported that former Gov. Ralph Northam expressed condolences, quoting “Pam and I are devastated by this heartbreaking news,” and “We are praying for Cameron, Carys, and the entire Fairfax family during this incredibly difficult time,” as obtained by The Washington Post.

ABC News reported that Davis said it was “a traumatic event for those children to live through,” and it also quoted Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi’s statement that her thoughts were with the children, loved ones and numerous friends.

The Virginian-Pilot said Ghazala Hashmi told the public in a statement that “Along with so many in the Commonwealth, I am filled with sorrow; I await further insights from our law enforcement officials,” and it reported that Davis said grandparents and other family members were with the children.

Several outlets placed the murder-suicide in the context of Justin Fairfax’s earlier political downfall after sexual assault allegations, while police focused on the domestic dispute and divorce proceedings.

NBC News recalled that in 2019, two women accused Fairfax of sexual assault, with Meredith Watson alleging Fairfax raped her in 2000 while they were students at Duke University, and Vanessa Tyson accusing him of forcing her to perform oral sex in 2004 when they attended the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

GV Wire

NBC News reported that Fairfax denied the accusations, saying the encounters with the women were consensual, and that he called for an FBI investigation into the claims.

NBC4 Washington similarly described the year earlier collapse of his political career after women said he sexually assaulted them, and it said Fairfax denied the allegations and was never charged with a crime.

USA Today described the allegations and quoted Fairfax’s denial after the second accusation: “I have never forced myself on anyone ever,” and it said he sued CBS for defamation in 2021, with the lawsuit later dismissed.

The BBC said Fairfax’s tenure was overshadowed by two allegations of sexual assault, accusations he denied, and it described the murder-suicide as appearing to stem from marital problems while the investigation remained ongoing.

Police said there was no threat to the community, and NBC4 Washington reported that authorities planned to get a search warrant for the home.

Looking ahead, Davis said detectives would figure out what led to the tragedy, and NBC News reported that “detectives will figure that out” as they investigate what “led to this tragedy here.”