Nolan Xavier Wells was found dead on a Mississippi barrier island after a July 4 boat trip with friends.

Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old college freshman, was found dead on Horn Island after a group boat trip on July 4. The Ocean Springs native was last seen at approximately 3 p.m. on the island, where he had gathered with roughly 300 young adults for a holiday celebration. While his friends and his phone returned to the mainland, Wells remained on the island until his body was discovered on July 6. The investigation into the circumstances of his death remains ongoing. While some observers suggested the death was racially motivated because Wells was the only Black man in a group of white friends, others have offered different perspectives. Tracestin Shepherd, a friend of Wells, suggested that Wells may have chosen to stay behind to meet a girl, though Wells' father, Elmore Wonsley, expressed skepticism, noting that Wells typically stayed with the group. Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of death.

Sources