Mississippi NAACP leaders release statement on Nolan Wells death investigation
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)– The Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP has released a statement regarding the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells on Horn Island.
The full statement can be read below:
“The Mississippi State Conference NAACP stands in profound grief alongside the family, friends, and teammates of Nolan Xavier Wells. Known affectionately to those who loved him as “Nono”, Nolan, an 18-year-old student-athlete majoring in general business at Southwest Mississippi Community College and Ocean Springs native, tragically went missing on the afternoon of July 4th during a boat trip with friends to Horn Island. Following an intensive multi-agency search, Nolan was recovered from the water off the northwest end of the island on Monday morning, July 6th.
Nolan was a young man of immense promise, a beloved son, a dedicated student, and a talented athlete who deserved a long, full life. More than his titles on a roster or a transcript, Nolan was a young man with a great character and positive energy. His family and his former coaches remember him as a kind, “happy-go-lucky” kid with a brilliant smile. At the end of the day, regardless of what the investigation reveals, Nolan was a young man who deserved to live a long, full life. His life being cut short under such uncertain circumstances is a devastating blow to the Ocean Springs and Southwest Mississippi communities, and to our entire state.
The Mississippi NAACP has been in direct contact with the Wells family and others close to the situation to offer our unwavering support and resources. As the family navigates this unimaginable loss and searches for the truth, the MS NAACP is firmly committed to ensuring that Nolan’s death is investigated with urgency and absolute transparency. Given the deeply concerning contradictions in initial accounts, reports of prior altercations, and the unanswered questions surrounding how Nolan was left behind, we call upon the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and all involved state and federal agencies to pursue every lead without bias or delay.
“Justice cannot thrive in the shadows,” said Rev. Whitfield of Gulfport, MS, a very close friend of the Wells family. “When an 18-year-old life is lost under troubling circumstances, transparency is not a privilege to be granted—it is a public obligation. We owe Nolan Wells, his family, and every citizen nothing less than a complete, impartial, and transparent investigation. Truth is the foundation upon which justice stands.”
We stand with the Wells family and join their call for the immediate and full release of all law enforcement records, witness statements, available video evidence, and autopsy reports. A grieving mother and father should not have to fight for basic answers about their child’s final hours. We urge anyone in the public who was on or near the northwest tip of Horn Island on July 4th, and who may have photos, videos, or eyewitness stories of any, to come forward immediately.
The Mississippi NAACP will be actively monitoring this investigation. In this fight for the truth, we carry the full support of NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and the National Office, ensuring the entire weight of our historic association stands behind this pursuit of justice. We will not rest until all facts are brought to light, accountability is established, and justice is served for Nolan Xavier Wells.”
