Rev. Al Sharpton officiated the funeral for Nolan Xavier Wells and called for new evidence regarding the teenager's mysterious July 4 death.
Rev. Al Sharpton officiated a memorial service Monday for Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old who died following a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island. During the service, Sharpton urged the public to seek answers to the "many unanswered questions" surrounding the teenager's disappearance. He announced a $100,000 reward for new information, with actor Tyler Perry covering half of the sum. The funeral highlighted the mystery of Wells' death, as he was the only person from a group of friends to remain on the island, where his body was discovered two days later. While local officials initially suggested Wells chose to stay behind, Sharpton questioned why his friends did not call the police immediately and why his phone and keys were found with them. Attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, noted that the team is currently awaiting an independent autopsy. The service drew a large crowd, including prominent figures from the Black community who gathered to honor the gifted athlete.