SerpApi.Org
(NewsNation) — Prominent celebrities are stepping up to help the family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells as questions linger about the events leading up to his death.
Wells’ family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to lead an independent investigation into the case as rumors swirl online about whether race played a role in the teen’s death. Crump said at a news conference last week that the family is conducting a private autopsy, paid for by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and confirmed that media mogul Tyler Perry is helping cover funeral costs.
Wells, a community college football player, was last seen on the remote Horn Island in Mississippi on July 4. His friends told investigators they took a boat home without him at around 3 p.m. after he allegedly said he would find another ride. His body was discovered on the island on July 6 following a multi-day search.
Could race be a factor in Nolan Wells’ death?
Rev. Al Sharpton, a social justice activist, joined Crump and Wells’ parents onstage at the news conference, where he discussed concerns that race may have contributed to the teen’s death, especially given Mississippi’s history.
“He was one Black with three young white men who happened to end up with his phone, happened to end up with his keys,” Sharpton said, adding that Wells’ mother was the one who tracked down his phone, and that the friends never voluntarily disclosed they had it or his keys.
“So some people are saying, ‘Reverend, are y’all bringing in race?’ Well, we’re not bringing in race, but we’re not discounting race, either, because we don’t know what it is,” Sharpton said. “This does not smell right.”
Sharpton also noted that filmmaker Spike Lee was at the news conference to support the family.
Nolan Wells’ death investigation to be turned over to grand jury
Crump said at a news conference this week that the investigation will be turned over to a grand jury once it is complete, following what he described as an “honest“ initial conversation with Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath.
“We also agreed that we would have a mutual inspection of the cell phone with our experts and their experts,” Crump added.
NewsNation’s Damita Menezes and Jordan Perkins contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
