The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has concluded its investigation into the deaths of twin brothers Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, officially ruling the case a double suicide.
“That’s not believable,” Rahim Brawner, an uncle to the brothers, said following the release from GBI Wednesday, May 21.
The 18-year-olds were found with fatal gunshot wounds on Bell Mountain on March 8. According to GBI, they traveled alone from their Gwinnett County home to the remote North Georgia location, based on cell phone data and surveillance footage. GBI claims that only Naazir went to the airport that day but never boarded a flight, despite having a ticket.
Investigators also claim that Naazir allegedly had purchased ammunition – delivered to their home two days before their deaths – and that both brothers had searched online for topics related to suicide and how to operate a firearm. Forensic evidence confirmed both had fired the gun and that their injuries were self-inflicted, according to GBI.
Despite the family’s initial skepticism and belief that foul play was involved, GBI says that agents met with them to explain the evidence supporting the suicide-suicide ruling. The case will be formally closed in the coming weeks.
Lewis has remained a skeptic of the twins’ death from the beginning, telling Now Habersham earlier this year that none of it seemed to add up.
“It is very odd to us,” Brawner said in March. “We absolutely do not believe what they’re saying – that it was a murder-suicide with two twin brothers who are always together. It’s just unbelievable. That’s just something they would not do. (Authorities) were so quick to say it was a murder-suicide – the same day it happened – without a thorough investigation or anything like that. This needs to be investigated thoroughly.”
