Key facts
- Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, died following a July 4th boat trip with friends.
- A memorial service was held for Wells in Mississippi, attended by civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump.
- Sharpton pledged a $50,000 reward for new information regarding the circumstances of Wells's death.
- Wells's family and supporters are demanding an independent and transparent investigation, citing unanswered questions and historical racial tensions in Mississippi.
- Attorney Ben Crump alleges that initial reports contradict witness accounts and that messages may have been deleted from a phone found with Wells's friends.
Family and supporters of Nolan Xavier Wells gathered for a memorial service in Mississippi, demanding truth and an independent investigation into the 18-year-old's death following a July 4th boat trip. His mother, Christine Wonsley, described him as a warm and gentle presence. Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking at the service, pledged a $50,000 reward for new information and invoked Mississippi's history of racial violence. Attorney Ben Crump echoed calls for scrutiny of law enforcement, alleging inconsistencies in initial reports and possible deleted phone messages. Wells, who was Black, traveled with white friends to Horn Island but did not return with them; his body was found two days later. Sheriff John Ledbetter stated that Wells's friends are cooperating and initial interviews suggest he voluntarily stayed on the island. The circumstances have fueled speculation and mistrust, prompting calls for transparency from the Congressional Black Caucus.