Georgia twins deaths ruled a double suicide, here's what happened
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced on Wednesday that the deaths of 19-year-old twins, found fatally shot atop Bell Mountain on March 8, have been ruled a double suicide.
Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, from Lawrenceville, were discovered by hikers near the North Carolina border, a location their family described as unfamiliar to them, according to NBC News.
Initially, the event was assumed to be an apparent murder-suicide, but this week the ruling has changed and the investigation is to close in the coming weeks.
They planned to visit friends in Boston on March 7, but only Naazir went to the airport. He did not board his flight and returned home.
Cellular location data tracked the twins' movements from their home to Bell Mountain. Video evidence shows the brothers alone at the mountain summit.
Forensic evidence indicates the twins fired the weapon used, with records showing Naazir purchased ammunition on March 5.
The GBI investigation concluded that the deaths were a joint act of suicide. However, the family remains uncertain about the circumstances leading to the tragic event.
Saying that they were looking to hire a private investigator specializing in homicide to look into the brothers' deaths, the family organized a GoFundMe page for the twins.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Twin brothers deaths ruled double suicide
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
25 minutes ago
- CBS News
Mayor Bass, regional mayors call for end to ICE raids in Southern California: "Our communities are not battlegrounds"
After days of violent and destructive protests in Los Angeles, fueled by an increase in immigration enforcement operations, Mayor Karen Bass and other regional mayors called for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. At a news conference Wednesday morning, Bass said the unrest in a portion of Los Angeles started last Friday after immigration operations were carried out in several parts of Southern California. Bass told reporters that LA and surrounding cities were "peaceful" before the raids. Mayor Karen Bass called on the Trump administration to end the immigration enforcement operations taking place across the Southern California region. KCAL News She explained that the raids have caused fear in immigrant communities, and accused President Trump of worsening the situation when he ordered the deployment of National Guard and U.S. Marine troops. She called for an end to ICE raids and the federalization of troops. "When you start deploying federalized troops on the heels of these raids, it is a drastic and chaotic escalation and completely unnecessary," Bass said. Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, claiming that his decision to deploy troops to LA saved the city from burning to the ground. "The great people of Los Angeles are very lucky that I made the decision to go in and help!!!," he wrote. Her speech came a day after she implemented a curfew in a portion of downtown LA after five consecutive nights of demonstrations, which have escalated to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers, as well as hundreds of arrests. Since the start of the protests, parts of downtown LA have been covered in graffiti, businesses have been looted and public property has been vandalized. TOPSHOT - A car burns as a demonstrator waves a Mexican national flag during a protest following federal immigration operations, in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on June 7, 2025. RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images During an interview Wednesday morning on CBS Los Angeles, Bass explained that the curfew will be extended until it is necessary to ensure public safety. The curfew currently runs for one square mile in the downtown area from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway and from the 10 Freeway to where the 110 Freeway and 5 Freeway merge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Bass has also taken to social media to share how the raids are affecting the city. In a post on X, she wrote, "Angelenos are trying to live their lives—going to work, caring for their families—while facing the constant threat of sudden immigration crackdowns." Other mayors from across Southern California joined Bass, calling for an end to the ICE raids. The Mayor of Huntington Park, Arturo Flores, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, told reporters that the military neighborhoods. "The deployment of Marines on our U.S. soil is an alarming escalation that undermines the values of democracy," Flores said. "Our communities are not battle grounds." Flores said the ICE raids being carried out in his community and others across the region are a form of intimidation that traumatizes hardworking residents. He said fear-based tactics are being used to target immigrant communities. The Mayor of Paramount, Peggy Lemons, added that residents are choosing not to leave their homes or send their children to school out of fear that ICE will take them away. "For many in our city, this has been the most devastating time in recent memory," Lemons said. She said immigrants, who play such an important role in the makeup of the region, should not have to live in constant fear.
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
Arraignment of accused SoHo crypto kidnappers takes on feel of mini trial. Here's what happened.
Grand jury indictments were unsealed Wednesday for the two men accused in the Lower Manhattan cryptocurrency and torture case. But what happened in court was far from your run-of-the-mill arraignment, CBS News New York's Doug Williams reported. Arraignment turns into something else entirely John Woeltz and William Duplessie pleaded not guilty together in court. Each have been indicted by a grand jury and charged with the kidnap and torture of a man from Italy last month inside a SoHo apartment, allegedly over crypto funds and passkeys. The judge started by telling both sides to explain the case. The defense then had the opportunity to defend its client in what played out almost like a mini trial. The prosecution argued against bail, saying the alleged victim's testimony not only led to a grand jury indictment, but his story and his injuries corroborated the findings of police. Among other things, prosecutors allege that while the victim was abducted, he was shocked with electric wires and his leg was cut with a saw. Investigators found body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition and t-shirts with a photo of a gun held to the victim's head in the apartment. Read more: Accused NYC crypto kidnappers had 2 NYPD detectives working as security, police sources say Defense says notion of torture "completely false" Defense attorneys painted a totally different picture. Duplessie's attorney, Sanford Talkin, told the the judge, "The narrative about the victim being confined and tortured is completely false." The defense claims to have surveillance video of the alleged victim under no duress or supervision, including, most notably, one they say shows him smoking a cigarette by himself on the street 36 hours prior to his alleged escape. Prosecutors responded by showing the judge a photo, which reporters could not see. However, Assistant District Attorney Sarah Khan said it depicted the victim having been "set on fire." Shortly thereafter, the judge said he'd heard enough. Defense attorneys argued for $1 million bail, ankle bracelets, and parental supervision, but all of that was denied by the judge, for now. Everyone will be back in court on July 15 to potentially revisit the requests.
New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Judge Bars Trump Administration From Detaining Mahmoud Khalil
A federal judge on Wednesday barred the Trump administration from continuing to detain Mahmoud Khalil. However, the judge, Michael E. Farbiarz, paused his own order, saying that it would not go into effect until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, which would allow the administration to appeal. Mr. Khalil, whose wife and infant son are American citizens, has been held in Louisiana for three months. He has not been accused of a crime. This is a developing story and will be updated.
