The tragic deaths of 19-year-old twin brothers Qaadir Malik and Naazir Rahim Lewis on Bell Mountain in Georgia have left their family grappling with more questions than answers. Since the twins were tragically found deceased by hikers on the morning of March 8, law enforcement officers have asserted that the case was a murder-suicide. Their family, however, has declared that the siblings were “protective” of each other and would never hurt one another.
The brothers were discovered at the summit of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Ga., nearly 90 miles from their home in Lawrenceville. Authorities, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), concluded in a preliminary report that one brother had killed the other before turning the gun on himself.
“They’re very protective of each other. They love each other,” their uncle, Rahim Brawner, told WXIA. “They’re, like, inseparable. I couldn’t imagine them hurting each other because I’ve never seen them get into a fistfight before.”
Casting further doubt on the police’s narrative, the twins had plane tickets for a trip to Boston the day prior, and their tickets were untouched in their wallets when their bodies were found. Adding to the mystery, the family insists that the brothers had no prior knowledge of Bell Mountain or any reason to travel there.
“How did they end up out in the mountains?” Brawner questioned. “They don’t hike out there; they’ve never been out there. They don’t know anything about Hiawassee, Georgia. They never even heard of Bell Mountain, so how did they end up right there?” Their aunt, Yasmine Brawner, also reinforced the family’s stance. “They had a huge support system. We know them. They wouldn’t do anything like this. To say they did this to each other? No. Something happened in those mountains, and we want answers.”
Reportedly, the GBI completed autopsies on the brothers, but the official cause of death remains pending as further forensic testing continues. The family remains steadfast in their belief that the official explanation does not align with what they knew of the twins. “We knew right away that wasn’t true,” Brawner said of the murder-suicide claim.
Determined to uncover the truth, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses and fund efforts to seek justice.
In a heartfelt message on the fundraiser page, Brawner wrote: “In recent news reports, it was claimed that they took their own lives. My nephews wouldn’t do this! They came from a family of love, and the twins wanted so much for their future. They had dreams of starting their very own clothing line.”
As of today (March 20), the fundraiser has raised $37,248 as loved ones continue their fight for clarity, justice, and accountability in the wake of their loss.
GoFundMe
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