Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife before taking his own life in what police described as a domestic-related murder-suicide, according to authorities.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said officers responded to the residence shortly after midnight, where they discovered both Fairfax and his wife deceased. Investigators indicated the incident stemmed from an ongoing domestic dispute tied to what was described as a complicated divorce.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the violence appears to have been confined to the home. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting, but officials emphasized that no other suspects are being sought.

Fairfax, a Democrat, served as lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022 under former Gov. Ralph Northam. He later ran for governor in 2021 but was unsuccessful.

His time in office was marked by controversy after multiple sexual assault allegations surfaced in 2019. Fairfax denied the accusations, but they prompted calls for his resignation from members of his own party and significantly impacted his political standing.

Authorities have not released additional details about the timeline of events, but early findings indicate the situation escalated within the home during the dispute.

The case has drawn renewed attention to the dangers associated with domestic conflicts, particularly those involving contentious separations. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned that such situations can escalate quickly without intervention.

The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the full sequence of events leading to the deaths.