Readers here will remember Justin Fairfax, who disappeared into the private sector after two allegations of sexual assault derailed the political career of Virginia's former lieutenant governor. Seven years later, Fairfax is back in the news in the most horrible way possible. Police have confirmed that Fairfax murdered his wife in an "ongoing domestic dispute" related to a "messy divorce," and then turned his firearm on himself.
The trigger was apparently the serving of papers related to a court motion:
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then himself in their home in Annandale, while their teenage children were home, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said early Thursday. He said the shooting happened amid "a complicated or messy divorce."
Police found Fairfax and his wife, Cerina Fairfax, dead in the 8100 block of Guinevere Drive shortly after midnight. Cerina was a dentist. Their two children are in high school.
Justin Fairfax is believed to have shot Cerina several times in a basement. Then, Justin ran to another part of the home and turned the same gun on himself, Davis said. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.
The two teenage children were inside the house at the time of the killings. Good Lord.
Police have also let reporters know that Fairfax had called the police on his wife and accused her of domestic violence, but Cerina Fairfax had convinced officers that nothing had happened:
Fairfax County police responded to the home earlier this year.
Justin Fairfax called police in January and accused his wife of assaulting him, Davis said. Cameras that Cerina had set up inside the home showed the assault never occurred, Davis said. Neither Justin nor Cerina were charged.
Expect some public debate over that data point in the near future. In some jurisdictions, such a call would force the police to detain one of the parties and separate them for at least the evening. Did that happen here, and if not, why not?
More questions may never be answered that have nothing to do with law enforcement. Why wouldn't two successful professionals find separate housing while going through a divorce? Cerina Fairfax had enough concern about what was happening inside the house to have cameras recording their interactions. Was there a history of violence in the marriage? Why did she stay or not insist that her husband leave? Given the history of allegations against Fairfax in the past, it's very difficult to believe that this paroxysm of rage and violence would have been the first indication of the danger Cerina Fairfax faced.
In the meantime, pray for the two teenagers who have been orphaned in this horrible crime. Let's hope that the family can step in and support them, and eventually allow these two children some level of healing over this despicable betrayal. We'll update this as developments warrant.
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