In the quiet suburban neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, a tragic story unfolded over a somber weekend, leaving a community in shock and a police department in deep reflection. Matthew Farberov, a 28-year-old White male and a recruit with the Fairfax County Police Department, was found deceased in his home in what authorities have described as an apparent suicide. The events leading to this grim discovery began on the evening of Saturday, February 19, 2022.
That evening, a distress call was made from Farberov's residence in the 4200 block of Sonia Court. Farberov himself had called the police to report a tragic scene: he had found his wife with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Emergency services rushed to the home, and his wife was transported to a nearby hospital, where she tragically succumbed to her injuries. Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau initiated an investigation into her death.
In the early hours of the following morning, around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 20, after the initial police response had concluded, a second call came from the same residence. This time, it was Farberov asking for officers to return. When they arrived, they were met with another heartbreaking scene. Farberov was discovered suffering from a gunshot wound, also believed to be self-inflicted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Fairfax County Police Department has been treating both deaths as a tragic case of a double suicide, pending final confirmation from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In the wake of these events, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis ordered an internal investigation. This probe was set to scrutinize the handling of the initial call and the officers' interaction with Farberov, who was described as distraught. A key aspect of the internal review was to determine whether the firearms present in the home should have been temporarily removed under Virginia's 'red-flag' law, which allows for the seizure of weapons from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Despite being offered mental health assistance at the scene, Farberov had declined it. As the investigation is centered on the circumstances of the couple's deaths, there have been no arrests made, and there are no suspects being sought in connection with this devastating incident.
