The shooting deaths of a Centreville husband and wife are believed to be a murder-suicide, the Fairfax County Police Department confirmed today (Sep. 10).
Officers were dispatched to the 6300 block of Sharps Drive after a family member living in the same residence called 911 to report the shooting around 5:30 p.m. yesterday.
They found Brandon Brown, 31, and his wife, Lavinia Brown, 31, who were both pronounced dead at the scene. A firearm and cartridge casings were also found in the house.
“Preliminarily, detectives believe Brandon shot his wife, Lavinia, before shooting himself,” police said in a press release.
They added that “the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies to confirm the cause and manner of death.”
The couple’s children were at home at the time of the shooting, but were not physically harmed. The children, whose ages were not disclosed, are staying with family at this time, and are being supported by the department’s Victim Services division.
“There is definitely no threat to the general public at this time,” officer Ingrid Palencia with the FCPD’s public affairs office said during a press conference yesterday evening.
The FCPD said yesterday that it preliminarily believes all individuals “are accounted for,” and no one is in custody at this time.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the department’s Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 911 or the Northern Virginia Regional Crisis Call Center at 703-527-4077. The crisis center can also be reached by text at 85511. In addition, a national, 24-hour crisis lifeline is available at 988.
