Latest news with #TownsCountySheriff'sOffice
USA Today
19-03-2025
- USA Today
Twin brothers found dead in Georgia mountains; family rejects murder-suicide assumption
Twin brothers found dead in Georgia mountains; family rejects murder-suicide assumption The deaths of twin brothers found with gunshot wounds at the top of Georgia's Bell Mountain was assumed to be a "murder suicide" in a preliminary investigation, authorities said. However, family members are telling multiple outlets they don't believe that is the case. The bodies of the two brothers, identified as Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19 of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were found on the morning of March 8 shortly after 11 a.m. by hikers, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a March 9 news release. GBI said the agency was called in by the Towns County Sheriff's Office "shortly after the discovery." "Both men were found with gunshot wounds," GBI said in the news release, noting a preliminary investigation determined the "deaths to be a murder suicide." However, officials were still investigating, authorities said. GBI, in an update Sunday, said the autopsies of the bodies were completed but the "official ME ruling and results are pending additional forensic tests." Family rejects murder-suicide assumption While authorities have not revealed further information on the deaths, the family of the brothers have rejected the assumption that the incident was a murder-suicide. 'They're very protective of each other. They love each other,' their uncle Rahim Brawner told NBC-affiliate KSDK. 'They're like inseparable. I couldn't imagine them hurting each other because I've never seen them get into a fistfight before.' The twins' family told the media outlet they thought the twins were visiting friends in Boston at the time, adding the brothers had booked a flight to Boston for 7 a.m. on the Friday before but never made the flight. Less than 24 hours later, the two were found dead in an area they had reportedly never visited before with their plane tickets in their wallets. 'How did they end up out in the mountains? They don't hike out there, they've never been out there,' Brawner said to KSDK. 'They don't know anything about Hiawassee, Georgia. They never even heard of Bell Mountain, so how did they end up right there?' No new updates on twin brothers' deaths Located near the North Carolina border, Bell Mountain is about a two- and half-hour drive from Atlanta. The boys' hometown, Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, is located approximately 30 miles northeast of downtown. It is not immediately clear how the two brothers ended up on the mountain and why they were there. GBI, in an email to USA TODAY Monday, said the agency had no new updates to report and that an investigation is ongoing. The Towns County Sheriff's Office, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for more information on the case. "To say they did this to each other? No. Something happened in those mountains, and we want answers," the duo's aunt Yasmine Brawner told KSDK. Twins came from a 'family of love,' says aunt Brawner has set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses for the brothers with a goal of $20,000. The account had collected more than $23,000 as of Monday morning. In the account's description, she once again refuted the idea that "they took their own lives," saying, "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," she wrote. "Unfortunately, something happened at Bell Mountain that ended the lives of 19-year-old Qaadir and Naazir, which needs to be further investigated." USA TODAY has reached out to Brawner. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Autopsy results for twins found dead at top of GA mountain pending for more tests
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says it needs additional forensic testing as agents investigate the deaths of twin brothers. On March 8, hikers found Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis from Gwinnett County dead from gunshot wounds at the top of Bell Mountain. The Towns County Sheriff's Office called the GBI to assist. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Investigators initially ruled their deaths as a murder-suicide. They sent their bodies to the GBI lab for autopsies. On Sunday, the GBI confirmed that the autopsies have been completed. However, the medical examiner did not issue an official ruling and the results are now pending until more forensic tests are completed. TRENDING STORIES: Delta Air Lines passenger found hiding 35 pounds of meth, fentanyl inside luggage Gwinnett 16-year-old missing for over 1 year found safe Roswell property owner says she's being bullied to give up land meant for her dream home Channel 2 Action News spoke with the Lewis twins' family over the weekend. Family members said they have so many questions, but very few answers. 'We're just trying to figure out what happened. We're trying put pieces together to understand. How did they end out in the mountains? They don't hike out there. They have never been out there,' said Samira Brawner, the twins' aunt. Rahim Brawner said his nephews were very protective of each other and were inseparable. The family said they don't believe their deaths were murder-suicide. 'I can't imagine them hurting each other because I've never even seen them get into a fist fight before,' their uncle said. 'Murder-suicide? I just believe that they were extremely incapable of that.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Twins found shot to death on Bell Mountain in Towns Co., GBI investigating
HIAWSSEE, Ga. (WJBF) – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is assisting the Towns County Sheriff's Office with a death investigation on Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia. Hikers found two men dead at the top of Bell Mountain. The men were identified as twin brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19, of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. On Saturday, March 8, 2025, at about 11:05 a.m., the Towns County 911 Center received notification that two people were found dead at the top of Bell Mountain. The GBI was requested by the Towns County Sheriff's Office shortly after the discovery. Both men were found with gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation reveals the deaths to be a murder suicide. A GBI medical examiner has completed the autopsies, but the official ME ruling and results are pending additional forensic tests. A GoFundMe has been created by the victims' family to help with burial expenses. Qaadir and Naazir aunt strated the account and made the following statement: I am the aunt of the twins Qaadir and Naazir that was found deceased on top of Bell Mountain in Georgia. In recents 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. Unfortunately Something happened at Bell mountain 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. Anything you donate will be appreciated ♥️ The goal was to raise $20,000, at last check over $22,500 had been donated. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
