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Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax Kills Wife, Dies by Suicide

Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife Cerine, then turned the gun on himself in what police are calling a murder-suicide. The incident happened at their home on Thursday.

April 16, 20268 sourcesDeveloping2 min read

Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then fatally shot himself in their home Thursday, according to police reports. The incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

Fairfax, a Democrat, served as Virginia's lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022. He was the second African American to hold the position in Virginia's history.

Police have not released details about what led to the shooting or provided information about the timeline of events. The investigation is ongoing.

Fairfax's political career was marked by both achievement and controversy. During his time in office, he faced sexual assault allegations from two women, which he denied. He also briefly became a potential successor to the governor's office during a political crisis in 2019.

The lieutenant governor position in Virginia is the state's second-highest elected office, with duties including presiding over the state Senate.

Why this matters

This shocking crime involves a high-profile politician who served as Virginia's second-highest elected official from 2018 to 2022. It raises questions about domestic violence and mental health support, even among those in positions of power.

What to watch

Police will continue investigating the circumstances. Funeral arrangements and political reactions are expected.

Sources
virginia-politicsdomestic-violencemurder-suicide
This story was written with AI based on reporting from the sources above. For the complete story, visit the original sources.

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