Rev. Al Sharpton has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells, as the case draws increasing national attention. The announcement came during Wells' funeral on Monday, where Sharpton urged anyone with knowledge of the July 4 incident to come forward.
Attorney Ben Crump is expected to reveal preliminary findings from an independent autopsy on Wednesday during a news conference at the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago. Crump will appear alongside Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, to release the first public medical insights into the 18-year-old's mysterious death.
Wells disappeared on 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 yet announced a cause or manner of death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The NAACP recently adopted a resolution urging local, state, and federal authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, to conduct what it described as an in-depth and transparent investigation into Wells' death. The resolution reflects growing concerns among civil rights leaders about the handling of the case.
Sharpton, speaking at Wells' funeral, questioned why the teenager's 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. He emphasized that someone at the July 4 gathering knows what happened, stating, "He was not on that island by himself. Somebody saw something and knows something."
The reward, offered through Sharpton's National Action Network, is intended to encourage witnesses to come forward. Filmmaker Tyler Perry has also pledged to help fund the reward and has paid for Wells' funeral, according to the Associated Press.
Crump has said that the local prosecutor agreed to present the completed investigation to a grand jury once it is finished. The family is still awaiting the results of the independent autopsy, which could provide crucial evidence in determining the circumstances of Wells' death.
The case has drawn support from prominent figures, including former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and filmmaker Tyler Perry, alongside Sharpton and Crump. While Sharpton has called for a thorough investigation, he has cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, saying, "We cannot say it was racist, but we cannot say it was not racist. So let's not judge either way until all the evidence is in."
TMZ recently released previously unseen video it said was recorded during the July 4 gathering on Horn Island. The footage pans across dozens of boats and people in the water before briefly focusing on an individual TMZ identified as Wells. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the video's authenticity, when it was recorded, or the identity of the person shown.
Fox News Digital 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. The requests aim to shed light on the initial investigation and the actions taken by authorities.
The official autopsy has not yet been released, making Wednesday's announcement the first independent medical findings expected to be shared publicly. The family's legal team plans to release the findings during the NAACP convention, hoping to pressure authorities to provide answers and ensure a transparent investigation.
As the family continues pressing for answers, the case has become a focal point for discussions about racial justice and accountability in law enforcement. Sharpton's reward and Crump's involvement underscore the high stakes and the demand for a thorough and impartial inquiry into the death of Nolan Wells.
