As Georgia police continue to investigate the mysterious deaths of twin brothers found dead near the top of Bell Mountain, family members are demanding immediate answers.
The medical examiner completed autopsies on Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19, but has not yet released a cause of death. Authorities said they were awaiting "additional forensic tests," while noting that both men were shot.
The men were found March 8 around 11 a.m. by hikers who called the police.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said, "The preliminary investigation reveals the deaths to be a murder-suicide." Family members have strongly challenged the GBI's preliminary assessment.
"In recent new reports, it was claimed that they took their own lives. My nephews wouldn't do this! They came from a family of love, and twins wanted so much for their future, they had dreams of starting their very own clothing line," stated Yasmine Brawner on a GoFundMe page she established for the family.
"Unfortunately [s]omething happened at Bell [M]ountain that ended the lives of 19-year-old Qaadir and Naazir, which needs to be further investigated. We need your support to share their story and to help raise the funds for their Funeral/Memorial for the twins," she wrote.
Bell Mountain is about 90 miles from where the twins lived in Lawrenceville, Georgia. According to a social media post, the twins planned to visit friends in Boston and had a 7 a.m. flight Friday, March 7. They missed the flight and were found dead about a day later at the top of Bell Mountain.
"Words cannot explain the loss I feel right now. My baby brothers... just gone without an explanation," Kairee Powell wrote on Facebook. "I'll never forget all the memories and life experiences we shared growing up together. The laughs, the cries, the joy, the sadness will always be with me. They were a bright light on some of my darkest days and were some of my biggest supporters. They will forever live on in the hearts of mine and our families."
