Nolan Wells' Death at 18 Stokes Black Parents' Fears as Mississippi Rules Out Foul Play
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 24
Nolan Wells' Death at 18 Stokes Black Parents' Fears as Mississippi Rules Out Foul Play
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 24
Summary
Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black athlete from Ocean Springs, died after taking a boat to a Mississippi barrier island with white friends on July 4, drawing intense social media scrutiny.
Jackson County authorities said on July 6 that Wells' death appeared to be an accidental drowning and that no foul play was suspected, saying he may have left his friends and boarded another boat.
That quick conclusion has fueled anger among Black parents and activists, who say the case reflects longstanding fears about Black children in predominantly white spaces.
Benjamin Crump, representing Wells' family, said this week that authorities would have investigated more aggressively if a white teen had died at a predominantly Black gathering.