In a bid to uncover the truth behind the tragic death of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells, Rev. Al Sharpton has announced a $50,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. This development arrives as attorney Ben Crump prepares to unveil preliminary findings from an independent autopsy, potentially shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the 18-year-old’s untimely passing.
Crump is set to disclose these findings at the highly anticipated 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago. During this event, he will stand alongside Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, as the family’s legal team presents the results of their independent inquiry for the first time.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of a resolution passed by the NAACP, calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into Wells’ death. The organization has urged local, state, and federal authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, to take action to ensure that justice is served.
Nolan Wells is pictured smiling while playing as a wide receiver for Southwest Mississippi Community College. (Christine Wonsley/Facebook)
Renewed interest in this case has been sparked by the release of a previously unseen video by TMZ. The footage, reportedly filmed during a July 4 gathering on Horn Island, shows a scene of boats and revelers in the water, briefly focusing on an individual purported to be Wells. However, News Media has not independently confirmed the video’s authenticity, the date it was recorded, or the identity of the person depicted.
Wells disappeared July 4 after traveling by boat with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, to celebrate Independence Day. Search crews spent two days looking for the teenager before a National Park Service ranger found his body near the island’s northwestern tip on July 6. Authorities have not announced a cause or manner of death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The official autopsy has not yet been released, making Wednesday’s announcement the first independent medical findings expected to be shared publicly.
Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a recent appearance. Sharpton has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The case has drawn growing national attention, with prominent civil rights leaders and public figures rallying behind Wells’ family, including Crump, Sharpton, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and filmmaker Tyler Perry.
Along with Crump, Sharpton has repeatedly called for a thorough investigation, though he has cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.
“We cannot say it was racist, but we cannot say it was not racist,” Sharpton said during Wells’ funeral. “So let’s not judge either way until all the evidence is in.”
Nolan Xavier Wells disappeared on the Fourth of July while boating with friends, according to authorities. (Jackson County Sheriff’s Department via Facebook)
Sharpton also questioned why Wells’ cellphone and keys were found with his friends, why they did not immediately contact law enforcement after realizing he was missing and why local officials appeared quick to dismiss the possibility of foul play.
During Wells’ funeral Monday, Sharpton announced a $50,000 reward through the National Action Network for information leading to an arrest and conviction, saying someone at the July 4 gathering knows what happened.
“He was not on that island by himself,” Sharpton said. “Somebody saw something and knows something. So I didn’t come to make money. I came to give money. Stand up and tell the truth.”
The Associated Press reported that Perry later pledged to help fund the reward in addition to paying for Wells’ funeral. Crump has also said the local prosecutor agreed to present the completed investigation to a grand jury once it is finished and that the family was still awaiting the results of the independent autopsy following Monday’s funeral.
As the family continues pressing for answers, News Media has filed public records requests with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ Marine Patrol seeking 911 calls, dispatch records, body-camera footage, incident reports, radio communications, vessel logs and other records related to the response to Wells’ disappearance and death.
News Media has also reached out to Crump’s office and the National Action Network for additional information regarding Wednesday’s announcement and the reward.