The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has officially ruled the deaths of 19-year-old twin brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, as a double suicide. The twins, who resided in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, were discovered deceased on March 8 at the summit of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, a location approximately 90 miles from their residence and close to the North Carolina border.
The Lewis brothers were supposed to travel to Boston to visit friends on March 7, but instead, they were found in a remote area of Georgia, a place they had never been to before, according to their family members. The GBI’s statement on Wednesday confirmed that the cause of both deaths was suicide, a conclusion drawn from the medical examiner’s autopsy results and other investigative findings.
The twins’ journey from their home to Bell Mountain was traced using cell phone location data. Surveillance footage from these locations showed the brothers alone. Naazir was spotted heading to the airport on March 7, but he did not board his flight and instead returned home. Qaadir, on the other hand, did not have an airline ticket.
The GBI’s investigation further revealed that the ammunition used in the fatal shootings was purchased by Naazir and delivered to his home on March 5. The method of obtaining the firearm was not disclosed by the agency. The brothers’ internet history showed searches on how to load a gun, suicide rates in 2024, and other related topics.
Forensic evidence suggested that the fatal shots were fired simultaneously and were self-inflicted. The GBI intends to formally close the investigation into their deaths in the upcoming weeks.
However, the family of the twins has contested the suicide ruling and has started a fundraising campaign to hire a private investigator. They maintain that the twins, who aspired to start their own clothing line, would not have committed suicide.
Scott Kerlin, a 42-year-old local volunteer firefighter, 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 strongly rejected by the family.
The family has also raised questions about how the twins ended up in such a remote area, as they had no known connection to Bell Mountain or Hiawassee. They are advocating for a more thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the twins’ deaths.