3 Children Were Home During Centreville Murder-Suicide: Police

CENTREVILLE, VA — Fairfax County Police said Thursday that the deaths of a Centreville husband and wife found shot inside their home Wednesday evening are being investigated as a domestic-related murder-suicide.

Detectives preliminarily believe Brandon Brown, 31, shot his wife, Lavinia Brown, 31, before shooting himself, according to police. Both lived at the home in the 6300 block of Sharps Drive.

Officers responded around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, after receiving a report of a shooting. They entered the home and found Brandon and Lavinia suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel pronounced both dead at the scene.

Three Children Were Inside Home

Three children who live at the home were inside when the shooting occurred, police said. None of the children was physically injured.

Police said Wednesday evening that a family member who lived at the residence had called 911. At the time, police had not identified the couple or said what investigators believed had happened.

"This is something devastating that has occurred in this neighborhood," PFC Ingrid Palencia of the Fairfax County Police Department's Public Affairs Bureau told reporters Wednesday evening. She said victim services advocates were working with the family to provide assistance.

Detectives recovered cartridge casings and a firearm from the scene, according to Thursday's update.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies to confirm the cause and manner of both deaths.

Victim specialists with the Major Crimes Bureau's Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure the family receives resources and assistance, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Fairfax County Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Solvers of Fairfax County at 866-411-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 Tips app.