A former deputy governor of Virginia and his wife were found dead at their home on Thursday morning, in what authorities described as a murder-suicide. Investigators say Justin Fairfax shot his wife multiple times before turning the gun on himself at their Annandale home. Both of the couple's teenage children were at home when the incident occurred.

Fairfax, the second black person elected to statewide office in Virginia, served as lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022. His tenure was overshadowed by two allegations of sexual assault, accusations he denied. County police chief Kevin Davis reported that the murder-suicide appeared to stem from marital problems, although the investigation remains ongoing. This has been an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce, Davis said during a briefing on Thursday morning.

Fairfax County authorities responded to an emergency call from the former deputy governor's son just after midnight local time, claiming he thought his mother had been stabbed. Investigators found bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax's body and asserted that there was no prolonged confrontation before the shooting. I think it all kind of happened at once, Davis noted. There wasn't a pause... it all happened pretty spontaneously.

The couple had been living together but were separated. This tragic event has been labeled a fall from grace for a high-profile family. Tragic for the children to lose both parents. Extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred, Chief Davis expressed. Political leaders have conveyed their astonishment and sympathy for the family, including former Governor Ralph Northam, who stated he was devastated by the heartbreaking news, having known the Fairfaxes well during their service together. Justin Fairfax ran for Virginia governor in 2021 but lost in the primary election.