Rev. Al Sharpton delivers eulogy at funeral for Nolan Xavier Wells, whose mysterious death after a July 4 boat trip sparked national debate.

Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old athlete, was laid to rest on Monday at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The funeral followed his disappearance on July 4 after a boat trip to Horn Island with a group of white friends. While his friends returned to the mainland, Wells was found dead on the shoreline two days later. The service featured a fiery eulogy by Rev. Al Sharpton, who called for a thorough investigation into the "many unanswered questions" surrounding the death. Sharpton announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, which actor Tyler Perry matched, bringing the total to $100,000. Family attorney Ben Crump also spoke, leading the crowd in a "Justice for Nolan Wells" chant while overseeing an independent investigation. While the official autopsy is pending, the case has drawn national attention due to the mystery of how Wells died and the racial dynamics of the trip. The administration of the investigation continues as the family seeks to determine if foul play occurred.

Sources