Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax tragically took his wife’s life early Thursday amidst a tumultuous divorce, then turned the gun on himself, according to police reports.
The 47-year-old Democratic representative allegedly shot Selina Fairfax, who was a dentist, multiple times in their Annandale home’s basement just after midnight. Following this, he took his own life.
The couple’s two teenage children were inside the home during the incident, and police noted that it was their son who called 911 when he discovered what had happened.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis commented on the horrific events, noting, “This is not just tragic; it’s deeply shocking for a family that had seemed to have much in their favor.” He also emphasized the profound impact of such a loss on children, stating, “It’s especially tragic for kids to lose a parent and to have to confront that at home.”
Although the couple had been married for two decades, they were living separately but still sharing the home during the divorce process, as confirmed by authorities.
Court documents reveal that Selina first filed for divorce in July of the previous year.
Ms. Davis mentioned, “There is an ongoing domestic dispute over what seems to be a particularly complicated divorce.”
She added, “It’s clear that divorce proceedings are happening. From what I gather, Fairfax recently received paperwork related to an upcoming court date, which may have triggered last night’s tragic events.”
This all came just months after the police were called to the Fairfax residence in January when Justin had made a false allegation of domestic assault against his wife. After reviewing footage from various cameras that Selina had installed, authorities concluded she had not been assaulted.
It remains unclear when or why the cameras were put up, and the exact reasons behind the couple’s separation are also not entirely clear.
These issues arose years after Justin faced serious allegations of sexual assault during his presidency in 2019, with at least two women accusing him of assaulting them in 2000 and 2004. He has always maintained that the encounters were consensual and did not resign despite the claims.
Following these controversies, Fairfax ran for governor in 2021 but lost to Republican Winsome Earl Sears and subsequently resigned from his position in 2022.
