Once seen by Democrats as a natural successor for the governor of Virginia, sexual assault allegations emerged against Justin Fairfax in 2019.
ANNANDALE, Va. — Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax was found dead at his Annandale, Va. home early Thursday, according to local police in northern Virginia.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said Fairfax shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, in his home in suburban Fairfax County several times before turning the gun on himself.
Davis acknowledged they were a “high-profile family” and the case is “tragic in nature.”
Here’s a closer look at Fairfax’s life and career.
Who was Justin Fairfax?
Fairfax, 47, was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Washington, D.C. The lawyer and politician worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia and later practiced law in private firms.
The Democrat served as Virginia’s 41st Lieutenant Governor from 2018 to 2022.
In 2019, some looked to Fairfax as a potential political successor to Gov. Ralph Northam, who had been embroiled in a controversy after resurfaced yearbook photos showed him in blackface. But soon those calls faded as sexual assault allegations against Fairfax, including by California political science professor Vanessa Tyson, led to intense political pressure and calls for Fairfax’s resignation.
Fairfax denied allegations and said the encounters were consensual and remained in office. Toward the end of his term, Fairfax ran in the Democratic Primary for governor in 2021, losing to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
After leaving office, Fairfax founded his own law practice and has continued to work as an attorney.
Chief Davis said Thursday that both Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, were found dead at their northern Virginia home after the couple’s teenage son called 911 shortly after midnight.
The police chief said the couple was going through a divorce.
Davis said his officers previously responded to the home in January after Fairfax alleged his wife had assaulted him.
“There are several cameras set up inside the house. Apparently, Mrs. Fairfax, at some point during these divorce proceedings, set up a lot of cameras inside the home. We reviewed those cameras, and we corroborated that the alleged assault never occurred. So, there was no arrest made,” Davis said.
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