Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax has been found dead at the age of 47 in what authorities believe to be a murder-suicide.
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The incident occurred on Thursday, with Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, discovered inside their home in Annandale, according to TMZ.
Both were found with "gunshot wounds, with her body found in the basement and his in the bedroom."
Former Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide
Authorities believe Fairfax shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
The couple's two children, both high school students, were inside the home at the time. One of them reportedly placed the 911 call.
Investigators are now reviewing the home's interior surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the "violence unfolded quickly," noting there was "little or no gap" between the shooting and the emergency call.
"If there was a window, it was a very short window," he said. "I think it all kind of happened at once. It all happened pretty spontaneously."
Davis also reflected on Fairfax's public profile and its impact on the case.
"At one point in time, I think it's fair to say that Justin Fairfax was a rising star politically, not just in Northern Virginia, but in Virginia."
"So it's high profile in nature. It's tragic in nature, certainly a fall from grace for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going in their favor."
Ongoing Investigation as Details Continue to Emerge
Authorities stated that Fairfax and his wife had separated but continued living in the same home in different bedrooms.
Divorce proceedings were reportedly underway, with "court appearances scheduled in the near future."
Davis added that Fairfax had recently been served legal paperwork, which he described as a potential "spark" leading up to the "tragedy."
Detectives continue to work toward establishing a clear motive.
Earlier this year, in January, police responded to the home following claims from Fairfax that his wife had assaulted him.
However, authorities later said that internal camera footage "determined that no assault had occurred".
Fairfax served as Virginia's lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022.
In 2019, two women publicly accused him of sexual assault. He denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed.
In 2021, he lost his bid for governor to Terry McAuliffe.
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