In Chicago on July 22, 2026, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the parents of 18-year-old student-athlete Nolan Xavier Wells announced that a preliminary independent autopsy found his cause and manner of death undetermined. The findings were revealed at a press conference during the NAACP National Convention at McCormick Place. Wells, a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College and former Ocean Springs High School player, was found dead on July 6 at Horn Island, Mississippi, after going missing during a July 4 boat trip with friends. His family is challenging initial local suggestions of accidental drowning and is calling for a federal investigation.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.