Ex-Virginia deputy governor kills wife and himself in murder-suicide, police say

Investigators say Justin Fairfax shot his wife, Cerina, multiple times before turning the gun on himself. Ex-Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax kills wife and himself in murder-suicide, police say Police chief details murder-suicide involving ex-Virginia deputy governor Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Justin Fairfax speaks at a gathering in 2020 Ex-Virginia deputy governor kills wife and himself in murder-suicide, police say 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 said the murder-suicide appeared to stem from marital problems, though the investigation remained ongoing. Watch: Police chief details murder-suicide involving ex-Virginia deputy governor Split screen. Police chief is on the left and police officers are on the right. "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 (05:00 GMT), and the caller said he thought his mother had been stabbed. Investigators found bullet casings near Cerina Fairfax's body and said there was no prolonged confrontation before the shooting. "I think it all kind of happened at once," Davis said. "There wasn't a pause... it all happened pretty spontaneously." Police said the couple had been living together but were separated. "This is certainly a fall from grace for a relatively high-profile family that seemingly had a lot of things going for them," Davis said. "Tragic for the children to lose both parents. Extra tragic for them to actually be in the home when it occurred." Political leaders have expressed shock at the deaths and sympathy for the family. "Pam and I are devastated by this heartbreaking news," former Governor Ralph Northam, under whom Fairfax served, said in a statement on Thursday morning. "I had the privilege of getting to know the Fairfaxes while our families served together." Fairfax ran for Virginia governor in 2021, but lost in the primary election. If you've been affected by issues in this article, help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. In the UK, a list of organisations that can help is available at BBC Action Line If you've been affected by issues in this article, help available in many countries can be found at . In the UK, a list of organisations that can help is available at The actors are seen in purple as the episode shows a character reporting domestic abuse to police. Ernie Jones is sentenced at Guildford Crown Court to seven years and two months in prison. The warning comes days after domestic abuser Lee Milne was convicted of killing his wife Kimberly who took her own life The remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were found in the singer's car last year. Reid Wiseman’s two daughters were in Nasa’s mission control room for the naming of the “Carroll” crater in honour of the commander’s late wife. Lyons, who oversaw hundreds of thousands of deportations, will step away from the role after 31 May. There is a nationwide warrant for the agent's arrest as he faces two second-degree assault charges filed by state prosecutors. Few Israelis see this truce as a way out of the conflict with Hezbollah, the BBC's Lucy Williamson writes.