OCEAN SPRINGS — On July 4, 2026, Wells took a boat trip to Horn Island with a group of friends. Horn Island is a barrier island located off the Mississippi Gulf Coast that serves as a designated wilderness area with no utilities or commercial ferry service. Approximately 200 to 300 young adults gathered on the island that day.

Wells's friends returned from Horn Island on July 4, 2026, but Wells did not. GPS data from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources shows the boat carrying Wells left the dock at 9:56 a.m. on July 4, 2026, and arrived at Horn Island at 11:14 a.m. on July 4, 2026. The vessel left Horn Island at 4:31 p.m. on July 4, 2026, after audio obtained recorded a call for help from the boat at approximately 4 p.m. on July 4, 2026, citing a malfunctioning bilge pump. The boat carrying Wells's friends was towed for approximately three miles on July 4, 2026, and returned to its original departure location at approximately 5:44 p.m. to 6:06 p.m. on July 4, 2026.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated that Wells chose to stay on Horn Island. Attorney Ben Crump stated that Wells was last seen on Horn Island at 3 p.m. on July 4, 2026. Christine Wonsley reported Wells missing late on the night of July 4, 2026.

A National Park Service agent discovered Wells's body facedown in the water. Dental records confirmed the body found was that of Wells. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd stated there were no immediate signs of foul play or trauma on Wells's body.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Wells on July 7, 2026. Results from the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s autopsy and toxicology tests have not been released.

Wells's body was flown to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy. Colin Kaepernick funded the independent autopsy. Results from the independent autopsy are pending.

Wells's family and attorney Ben Crump met with Jackson County District Attorney Angel McIlrath on July 9, 2026. McIlrath stated the case would be presented to a grand jury after the investigation is completed. Authorities and the Wells family agreed to a mutual inspection of Wells's cellphone.

Christine Wonsley tracked Wells's phone to the home of one of the friends who was on the boat using the Life360 app. Wells's phone and keys were recovered from the home of one of his friends. "Snapchat messages and photos from July 4 were missing from Nolan Wells's phone when the family retrieved it," Wonsley stated.

"She and her sister checked Nolan Wells's phone before the 24-hour Snapchat expiration period," she added. "Nolan Wells was an avid user of Snapchat who typically took videos and pictures at social gatherings," Wonsley stated.

"The Jackson County Sheriff's claim of no suspected foul play was premature because it was made before the autopsy was completed," Crump stated. "Had the roles been reversed, the investigation would be proceeding differently and the young Black men would be interrogated," he said. "The family would have their experts and local authorities' experts mutually inspect Nolan Wells's phone," he stated.

"Nolan Wells was taught to stay with his group for safety," Elmore he stated. "He does not believe Nolan Wells decided to stay on Horn Island by himself," his father added. "She and Nolan Wells's father had conversations with him about how to move in certain spaces as Black people," he stated.

Ashlee Cole, a Jackson County chancery judge and mother of one of Wells's friends, denied that her family hindered the investigation. Cole alleged that Wells left Horn Island with a separate group of friends. Tracestin Shepherd was a friend of Wells and was on Horn Island on July 4, 2026.

Tyler Perry is paying for Wells's funeral services. Wells's funeral services were held on July 14, 2026, at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs. Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy at Wells's funeral. Spike Lee attended Wells's funeral.

The Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement calling for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into Wells's death. Nolan Xavier Wells was an 18-year-old student at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Wells was a wide receiver on the Southwest Mississippi Community College football team.

Wells was from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Wells attended Ocean Springs High School. Wells's parents are Christine Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley. Ben Crump is the attorney representing Wells's family.