Rev. Al Sharpton has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. The announcement comes as the family's attorney, Ben Crump, is set to reveal preliminary findings from an independent autopsy.
The news conference is scheduled to take place at the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago, where Crump will appear with Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley. This marks the first time public medical insights into the teenager's death are expected.
Wells disappeared on July 4 after a boating trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi coast. His body was discovered by a National Park Service ranger on July 6 near the island's northwestern tip. Authorities have not yet released an official cause or manner of death, and the investigation is ongoing.
Crump and Sharpton have been vocal advocates for a comprehensive investigation into Wells' death. Sharpton has urged caution against premature conclusions, stating, "We cannot say it was racist, but we cannot say it was not racist." He has also raised questions about why Wells' cellphone and keys were found with his friends and why law enforcement was not immediately contacted upon his disappearance.
The NAACP recently adopted a resolution calling for local, state, and federal authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, to conduct a transparent investigation. Prominent figures such as former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and filmmaker Tyler Perry have also offered support to the Wells family. Perry reportedly pledged to help fund the reward and cover funeral expenses.
The case has garnered significant national attention, with the family's legal team pushing for answers. Fox News Digital has filed public records requests for details related to the initial response to Wells' disappearance and death.