In a tragic turn of events stemming from a difficult divorce, 45-year-old Lola Gulomova, a female U.S. Commerce Department official, was found dead in her Washington, D.C. home on Friday, June 7, 2019. The incident, which occurred in the 4300 block of Windom Place, Northwest, has been described by authorities as a murder-suicide. Her death was ruled a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds.
The sole suspect in Gulomova's death was her 51-year-old husband, Jason Rieff.
On the morning of the incident, police were called to the couple's residence for a welfare check. This call was prompted by an urgent message Rieff sent to his lawyer shortly before a scheduled court hearing to finalize the couple's fiercely contested divorce. Upon arrival, officers were unable to get inside the home. After forcing entry, they encountered Rieff armed with a handgun.
As officers entered, they heard a gunshot and discovered Rieff with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Inside the residence, police also found Gulomova, who was unresponsive and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The couple's two children were not at home at the time of the incident.
The preliminary investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch concluded that the incident was domestic in nature. Both Gulomova and Rieff were career foreign service officers. Friends and colleagues described Gulomova as a vibrant and dynamic woman who was a dedicated mother and professional. The tragic event sent shockwaves through their community, with neighbors leaving flowers outside the home. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the couple's two young daughters.
