Nolan Wells' family demands fed probe after grand jury rejects criminal charges - National & International News -

Nolan Wells’ family demands fed probe after grand jury rejects criminal charges

The family of Nolan Wells, who died following a 4th of July party on Horn Island, is calling for a federal investigation into his death. The Wells family and their attorney Ben Crump have raised questions over Wells’ death due to the fact that he was one of very few Black individuals in attendance at a gathering which drew hundreds of people that day. They have alleged that racial prejudice somehow played a role in Nolan’s death.

Two autopsies (one by the state of Mississippi and one conducted privately) found no definitive cause of death. Both autopsy reports cited what appeared to be bruising to the back of Wells’ head, but both examiners also concluded the bruising did not contribute to his death. Both examiners stated that drowning could not be ruled out as a cause of death for Wells. Horn Island is known to have dangerous rip currents.

A grand jury in Jackson County, MS, declined to pursue a criminal case in Wells’ death. The Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath also noted that Crump’s own office reported that their own investigation could find no evidence that any crime was committed against Wells.

McIlrath has publicly scorned Crump’s conduct in the case, accusing him of promoting a racially-charged narrative around Wells’ death while knowing there was no evidence of a crime. She has been particularly scathing about Crump’s “misleading” claim that Well’s phone had been tampered with. She also urged Crump’s team to “stop playing games” and turn over evidence recovered from the phone to her office for review.

Nevertheless, the Wells family has stated that they are not satisfied with the investigation or the findings of the grand jury. Rather than shedding more light on the case, the family says, the grand jury’s report has only left them with more questions. Black leadership organizations and high profile civil rights groups have also joined Crump and the Wells family in calling for a federal probe.