killed by her husband, former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax

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

Once considered a rising star in Democratic politics, he committed the tragic act of violence amid "a complicated or messy divorce," Fairfax County Chief of Police Kevin Davis said. Several years ago, the attorney's political career crumbled after women said he sexually assaulted them.

Dr. Cerina Fairfax, an accomplished dentist and devoted mother, was found dead in the home with her husband in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive shortly after midnight Thursday. She was 49 and her husband was 47.

The couple's son and daughter, who are high-school age, were home at the time, Davis said.

Justin is believed to have shot Cerina several times in their basement before running upstairs to the primary bedroom and turning the same gun on himself, Davis said. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.

The couple's teen son called 911 and said his mom was bleeding and he didn't know where his dad was.

Cerina had cameras installed inside the home at some point, police said. Detectives used them to corroborate the sequence of events.

"Certainly a traumatic event for those children to live through," Davis said. The children are now with family members.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

Davis said the couple was separated but still living together in the home, in separate bedrooms.

Court documents obtained by News4 say Cerina filed for divorce in 2025. Last month, a county judge granted custody of their teen children to Cerina and ordered Justin to move out of their home by the end of April.

"That may have been a spark," Davis said. "Detectives will figure that out, what led to this tragedy here."

An investigation is underway, and authorities planned to get a search warrant for the home. Police said there is no threat to the community.

Cerina Fairfax was an accomplished dentist and devoted mom

Cerina ran a family dental practice in Fairfax and was an accomplished dentist and member of several professional associations.

She graduated from Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University and was recognized as a VCU outstanding graduate, a bio on her dental practice’s website says. She shared that she loved to travel, read, care for pet dogs and “spend time with her wonderful family.”

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed his wife and himself in their home in Annandale, while their teen children were home, Fairfax County Chief of Police Kevin Davis said. Here’s his full news conference, with his answers to questions from reporters.

Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey described her horror upon learning the couple whom she and her husband once joined for dinner and family celebrations was dead.

“I am devastated. I just screamed when I heard the news,” she said.

“My heart goes out to the family, the children, Cerina’s parents, all of their relatives, and I pray God's comfort to them at a time like this,” her husband, Virginia NAACP President Cozy Bailey, said.

Cerina was “brilliant,” Andrea Bailey said.

“She was a superstar in her own right,” he said. "There's a loose group of Black female dentists here in the Northern Virginia area, and she was a part of that group. Everybody knew the name of Cerina Fairfax."

Cameras disproved Justin Fairfax's report that Cerina assaulted him, police said

Fairfax County police responded to the home once before, earlier this year. Justin called police in January and accused his wife of assaulting him, Davis said. But the cameras she'd installed in the home served as key evidence.

“We reviewed those cameras and we corroborated that the alleged assault never occurred,” Davis said.

No arrests were made, and no charges were filed against either Cerina or Justin.

Justin Fairfax was once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party.

He had served as Virginia's lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022. His election made history; he was just the second African-American elected statewide in Virginia. He appeared poised to take over the governor’s office from Ralph Northam in 2019 after a scandal over a racist photo in Northam’s medical school yearbook.

Then, two women accused Fairfax of sexual assault. He denied the allegations, tried to clear his name and was never charged with a crime.

He practiced law after leaving public office, Davis said.

"Certainly a fall from grace for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going in their favor," Davis said. "So tragic for the children to lose both parents. Extra tragic for them to be in the home when it occurred."

Justin changed after the allegations ended his quest for higher office, the Baileys told News4.

“He was on the verge of great achievement when his world changed dramatically,” Cozy Bailey said. “He went to a dark place. He went to a dark place after unfounded, unproven allegations of things that can just totally ruin a person.”

Court documents obtained by News4 say Cerina Fairfax filed for divorce in 2025. Last month, a county judge granted custody of their teen children to her and ordered Justin Fairfax to move out of their home by the end of April. News4’s Drew Wilder reports.

The police department's victim services division is supporting the family and the children in particular, Davis said.

Justin Fairfax lost custody of kids, was ordered to move out, court documents say

Court documents say Justin Fairfax spiraled into alcoholism and isolated himself from family involvement following the 2019 sexual assault allegations against him while he was in office. He denied the allegations, but they weighed on him tremendously, the judge wrote.

“The wife testified that heavy daily alcohol consumption by the father has become the norm,” a judge wrote in the custody opinion.

During the custody battle, the judge said "the evidence also showed that in 2022 father purchased a handgun with money intended for his children's horseback riding lessons."

The couple was scheduled to return to court Monday for the next phase of the proceedings, court records say.

Justin was being punished by the court for not complying with existing court orders. A judge had recently ordered him to be fined $300 for each day he continued to disregard orders and compensate his wife for money he owed her.

The court found that Justin was unable to have a healthy relationship with his kids because of his alcohol use and self-isolation within the home.

The family's struggles were becoming apparent to neighbors, Peter Demeo said. He said they seemed to have marital issues but he never would have imagined this outcome.

‘Heartbroken beyond words’: Friends and leaders honor the Fairfax family

Friends and local leaders, both current and former, expressed their horror and heartbreak.

Former D.C. Council member and current mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie said he and Justin were childhood friends. He said he's praying for the couple's children, families and others who are grieving.

"I am heartbroken beyond words," McDuffie said in a statement. "The Fairfax family and my family have been close for as long as I can remember. Our parents knew one another. We grew up in each other's lives."

Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred last night. I am praying for the Fairfax children, and I ask my fellow Virginians to hold them in their hearts and prayers.

Murder-suicides occur more than once a day somewhere in the U.S., mostly committed by white men armed with guns, against their romantic partners. News4’s Ted Oberg spoke with a family violence law professional about warning signs and why divorce can be a high-risk time.

“The murder of Dr. Cerina Fairfax in an apparent murder-suicide is a horrific tragedy. Dr. Fairfax was a devoted mother, beloved dentist in the Fairfax County community, and engaged supporter of her alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University,” Spanberger said. “My prayers are with the Wanzer and Fairfax families as they mourn their own loss, endeavor to make sense of this tragedy, and comfort the Fairfax children.

“This tragedy reminds us that domestic violence can occur in any family and in any place," she said. "Resources are available to support our neighbors experiencing domestic violence and facing mental health crises.”

Ralph Northam, the Virginia governor during Justin's term, said: “Pam and I are devastated by this heartbreaking news. I had the privilege of getting to know the Fairfaxes while our families served together."

Northam added that he's praying for the couple's children "during this incredibly difficult time.”

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released a joint statement.

“We are keeping Cerina and Justin Fairfax’s family—especially their two children—in our prayers as we all process this shocking and horrifying news. We urge any Virginians impacted by domestic violence to call the police or the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support," the statement said.

Anyone with potentially relevant information on the case is asked to contact police.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.