Wasel Ali was born first and buried first, six years ago in a cemetery outside Baltimore.
His identical twin Wael was born second and buried second, on Tuesday, right next to his brother.
Wael’s funeral took place less than two years after he stood trial for killing his 19-year-old brother, who was found asphyxiated in a field not far from the Mall in Columbia in 2007. Jurors could not agree on a verdict.
On Friday night, Wael, 25, was killed outside Atlanta, where he’d moved to rebuild his life after his brother’s death. Police said a friend of Wael’s accidentally shot him in the front of the neck — the same location as his brother’s fatal injury.
“It is hard to overlook the coincidence in both brothers losing their lives in a tragic and untimely way,” said David Zwanetz, one of the lawyers who represented Wael at his trial. “Wael and Wasel shared everything in life, and I found it deeply moving to know that they will share a plot and lie next to one another for eternity.”
He described the funeral, which he attended, as highly emotional. “No child should ever pass before his or her parents, and in this case my heart is broken for the Ali family,” he said. “Simply broken.”
Wael’s death may prompt Howard County police to close their investigation into Wasel’s murder. Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said Wael was still considered the main suspect in his brother’s murder.
“As of today, the case is still active, but in light of recent events, it will be reviewed,” she said.
