Civil rights leaders question Nolan Wells’ death, noting violent MS racial past
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Al Sharpton publicly questioned Nolan Xavier Wells’ death.
- Attorney Ben Crump questions inconsistencies surrounding mysterious death.
- Tyler Perry will help cover funeral expenses and Sharpton will officiate at the service.
Mississippi’s violent racial history is a big part of the reason that Nolan Xavier Wells’ family is suspicious about the mysterious death of their 18-year-old Black son after he boated with white friends to Horn Island and spent July Fourth among a crowd of white people, civil rights activist Al Sharpton said Friday during a news conference in New York.
Celebrities are stepping up to assist, including Hollywood filmmaker Tyler Perry, who will help cover funeral expenses, and Spike Lee, a filmmaker and actor who was in the audience. Sharpton said he will officiate at Wells’ funeral at the family’s request. Arrangements will be announced later.
Speaking to an audience of national media representatives, Sharpton and the family’s attorney, Ben Crump, said there are also many inconsistencies surrounding the death of the Ocean Springs teen. A National Park Service ranger found his body in the water as it washed up near the shoreline Monday morning during a search that started Saturday night after Wells failed to return to shore.
“This smacks of some of the fears we’ve had historically, not only in Mississippi, but in this country,” said Sharpton, who stood with Wells’ grieving parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley. “ . . . Sometimes, you’ve got to make people sweat to get the poison out of their system. I’m the sweat man.”
Crump, who has represented the families of numerous well-known racial violence victims, followed Sharpton at the microphone. He streamed the news conference live on his Instagram account. He explained why his office has initiated an independent investigation into Wells’ death.
He said that forensic pathologist Roger Mitchell, chief medical examiner for Washington, D.C., is handling the autopsy. Crump said they’ve also been hearing from young people on the island and his office is collecting evidence.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the state’s investigation. While the state Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy before releasing Wells’ body to the family, no results had been released by noon Friday.
“It is because the family has distrust of the Mississippi law enforcement officials giving them a fair investigation when their Black son ended up dead after going out on a boat and three white men,” Crump said. “If the roles were reversed, and you had three young Black men on a boat with a young white man, and that young Black man ended up dead, what kind of investigation would be conducted by the Mississippi law enforcement officials?
“How many times would those three young Black men be interrogated?”
At the end of the news conference, Christine Wonsley said she has heard about protests. Young acquaintances of Wells held a small one in Ocean Springs, she said.
“Please be peaceful,” she said. “Don’t go out there trying to be tough. Just think about what Nolan would want and, I’m telling you, he would not want that type of behavior.”
Crump asked anyone to get in touch with his law firm if they were on Horn Island on July Fourth and saw Nolan, witnessed anything of interest or shot video. His office can be reached through his website, or by calling 800-683-5111.
This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 12:28 PM.
