(Photo from Congressional Black Caucus on Facebook)
- Attorney Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, and Wells’ parents are set to speak at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Atlanta on Thursday about the Caucus’ call to action for the Department of Justice.
The Congressional Black Caucus has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel urging the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells.
As previously reported, the teen was reported missing July 4 after he did not return from an outing with friends where they were celebrating the holiday on Horn Island off of the Mississippi Coast. The friends have publicly said that Wells chose to stay on the island and not return with them. When Wells did not return later that evening, the friends and Wells’ parents began searching for the teen. Wells’ body was found the morning of July 6 on the shoreline of the island.
Since that time, the Sheriff’s Department has been working with other agencies, including the FBI, to conduct an investigation into Wells’ death. The initial autopsy performed on Wells by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner as well as the toxicology report ordered by that office has been completed, with the results sent to the Jackson County District Attorney. The DA and local law enforcement have asked the public to be patient as they continue to investigate the death.
Rampant social media speculation as to the cause of Wells’ death took hold almost immediately. Accusations of the death being the result of a racially motivated act has stirred despite no evidence to back up such claims to date. Photos of Wells, a black teen, with his friends, who were mostly white, have been spread around by social media influencers and even celebrities making racially charged claims against the white teens, their families, and the Mississippi community at large.
Now, the Congressional Black Caucus is raising concerns regarding the lack of transparency and unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances of Wells’ disappearance and death more than one month later.
The black lawmakers said that while local authorities in Mississippi have an ongoing investigation, the continued absence of answers warrants additional federal resources and an independent assessment of whether federal involvement is appropriate.
“More than 30 days after his disappearance and death, significant questions remain unanswered about the events of July 4, 2026, and the circumstances that led to his death. The Wells family has been forced to grieve while also seeking basic information about what happened to their son,” the Caucus stated in a release.
The Congressional Black Caucus requested that the Department of Justice immediately review the matter and provide a written response within seven days regarding the Department’s involvement and the steps it has taken or intends to take.
“A local investigation does not diminish the need for federal assistance or an independent assessment of whether additional investigative resources or federal jurisdiction are warranted. Nor should federal involvement be viewed as prejudging the facts or conclusions of any investigation. We simply want to ensure that every appropriate resource, investigative tool, and avenue of inquiry is being used to establish the truth,” the Caucus wrote in the letter.
Attorney Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, and Wells’ parents are set to speak at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Atlanta on Thursday about the Caucus’ call to action for the Department of Justice.
The Caucus’ letter is shown below.
