A former Democratic lieutenant governor of Virginia—once poised to run for the state’s highest office—died by self-inflicted gunshot wound after fatally shooting his wife in a domestic incident at their home in Annandale, Virginia, just after midnight Thursday.

Police report that Justin Fairfax shot Cerina Fairfax multiple times in the basement before moving to another part of the house and killing himself with the same firearm. Fairfax’s son called 911 from the residence shortly after the incident, initially believing his mother had been stabbed. Emergency responders discovered bullet casings near Cerina’s body and later found Justin Fairfax upstairs with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Fairfax County Police stated the event appears to be part of an ongoing domestic dispute linked to what police described as “a complicated or messy divorce.” Authorities noted Fairfax had recently been served legal documents for an upcoming court proceeding, though they also confirmed that prior allegations he claimed his wife assaulted him were corroborated by evidence to be false.

The incident occurred while three children—two teenage boys and a young girl—were present in the home. Police described the situation as representing “a fall from grace” for the family.

A local official characterized the tragedy as deeply unsettling, emphasizing that the children are now waking up to an unimaginable reality with no resolution in sight.