The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has concluded that the deaths of 19-year-old twin brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, were a result of a double suicide. The twins, residents of Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, were found dead on March 8 at the peak of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, approximately 90 miles from their home and near the North Carolina border.
The brothers had intended to travel to Boston to visit friends on March 7, but were discovered dead in a remote area of Georgia they had never visited before, according to their family. The GBI’s announcement on Wednesday confirmed that both deaths were suicides, based on the medical examiner’s autopsy results and other investigative findings.
Cell phone location data traced the twins’ journey from their home to Bell Mountain. Surveillance footage corresponding to these locations showed the brothers alone. Naazir was seen heading to the airport on March 7, but he did not board his flight and returned home. Qaadir did not possess an airline ticket.
The GBI’s investigation revealed that the ammunition used in the fatal shootings was purchased by Naazir and delivered to his home on March 5. The agency did not disclose how the firearm was obtained. Internet history from the brothers’ phones showed searches on how to load a gun, suicide rates in 2024, and other related topics.
Forensic evidence indicated that the fatal shots were fired simultaneously and were self-inflicted. The GBI plans to formally close the investigation into their deaths in the coming weeks.
However, the family of the twins has disputed the suicide ruling and has initiated a fundraising campaign to hire a private investigator. They insist that the twins, who had dreams of starting their own clothing line, would not have taken their own lives.
A local volunteer firefighter, Scott Kerlin, 42, has been charged with misdemeanor obstruction for allegedly photographing the death scene and sharing the images publicly. Initially, investigators considered the possibility of a murder-suicide, a theory vehemently rejected by the family.
The family has also questioned how the twins ended up in such a remote area, as they had no known connection to Bell Mountain or Hiawassee. They are calling for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the twins’ deaths.