The family of Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis are looking for answers.
After authorities classified the twin brothers' deaths as a murder-suicide one week after hikers in Hiawassee, Ga., found their bodies on March 8, their loved ones are questioning what led to the harrowing discovery.
"They're very protective of each other," their uncle Rahim Brawner said of the brothers to NBC affiliate WXIA-TV March 14. "They love each other. They're like inseparable. I couldn't imagine them hurting each other because I've never seen them get into a fistfight before."
Qaadir and Naazir, 19, were found shot to death nearly 90 miles from their Lawrenceville home at the summit of Bell Mountain, a location their family said they'd never visited before.
"How did they end up out in the mountains?" Rahim noted. "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?"
In fact, the twins had booked a flight to Boston to visit their friends the day before their bodies were found. Their family revealed that Qaadir and Naazir still had airline tickets in their wallets on the mountain.
Although the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has ruled it a murder-suicide, Rahim told the station, "We knew right away that wasn't true."
"We know them," she added. "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."
The brothers' aunt Yasmine Brawner emphasized that they "had a huge support system."
As for what Georgia officials have said of their deaths?
"Both men were found with gunshot wounds," the GBI shared in a March 16 statement. "The preliminary investigation reveals the deaths to be a murder-suicide. Autopsies are pending. The death investigation is active & ongoing."
The statement also added, "A GBI medical examiner has completed the autopsies, but the official ME ruling and results are pending additional forensic tests."
(E! News and WXIA-TV are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Read on for a breakdown of the ongoing investigation into Qaadir and Naazir's deaths.
Who Are Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis?
Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis were 19-year-old twins from Lawrenceville, Ga., who were found dead at the top of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Ga., March 8, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Their aunt Yasmine Brawner shared in a GoFundMe raising money for their funeral costs that Qaadir and Naazir had "dreams of starting their very own clothing line."
Authorities classified their case as a murder-suicide, but their loved ones have expressed their disagreement, with Yasmine emphasizing on the crowdfunding website, "My nephews wouldn't do this! They came from a family of love, and twins wanted so much for their future."
What Led Up To The Day Qaadir Lewis and Naazir Lewis’ Bodies Were Found?
Qaadir and Naazir were believed to have boarded a 7 a.m. flight from Atlanta to Boston March 7 to visit friends, their family told NBC affiliate WXIA-TV. It came as a shock to learn that the brothers, who still had the airline tickets in their wallets, never made it on the flight, their loved ones added.
When and How Were Qaadir Lewis and Naazir Lewis Found?
The bodies of Qaadir and Naazir were found by hikers at the summit of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Ga., on March 8 at about 11 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shared in a press release.
What Have Authorities Said About Qaadir Lewis and Naazir Lewis’ Case?
The GBI shared in a March 9 press statement that the brothers were both "found with gunshot wounds" and that the "preliminary investigation reveals the deaths to be a murder-suicide."
A GBI medical examiner completed their autopsies, the officials announced in a March 16 update, "but the official ME ruling and results are pending additional forensic tests."
What Has Qaadir Lewis and Naazir Lewis’ Family Said About Their Case?
Despite Georgia authorities classifying Qaadir and Naazir's deaths as a murder-suicide, their family doesn't believe that's the case.
"They're very protective of each other," their uncle Rahim Brawner said of the brothers to WXIA March 14. "They love each other. They're like inseparable. I couldn't imagine them hurting each other because I've never seen them get into a fistfight before."
He revealed that the twins were found dead nearly 90 miles from their home at a place their family said they had never visited.
"How did they end up out in the mountains?" Rahim added. "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 family also paid tribute to Qaadir and Naazir with their sister Kairee Powell reflecting on her relationship with the twins.
"I'll never forget all the memories and life experiences we shared growing up together," she wrote on Facebook March 16. "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."