The city where Nolan Wells lived is full of sorrow.
It has been more than a week since a search crew found the teenager’s body in the waters near a Gulf Coast barrier island, where he celebrated the Fourth of July with friends. The tragic news rattled his tight-knit community of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where shock is now turning to grief, speculation and painful uncertainty.
The community is “trying to pull together and be supportive to his family, but they’re still just in disbelief,” said Tracy Lampley, who coached Wells when he played football at Ocean Springs High School. “Everybody just wants to know what happened.”
So far, the answer has remained unclear. Law enforcement have said Wells, 18, disappeared during crowded holiday celebrations on Horn Island, about 10 miles off the Mississippi Coast. Autopsy results are still pending, and authorities had not released a cause of death by Monday night. The county’s sheriff said last week that no signs of foul play had emerged as the department’s investigation into Wells’ death continues.
Ben Crump, a national civil rights attorney who is representing Wells’ family, is also investigating the teen’s death. The tragedy began drawing national attention as a photo circulated online that shows Wells, who was Black, sitting on a boat with several friends, who are white.
Crump and Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, appeared on the show last week and called for a thorough investigation. They said they could not understand why Wells would separate from his group of friends.
“It’s not adding up,” Crump said, “and that is the problem when you think about the history of Mississippi.”
Horn Island off the Mississippi Coast
John Fitzhugh/Sun Herald file
Sean Tindell, commissioner of the , told the conservative talk radio station SuperTalk Mississippi that his “heart is bleeding for the family and the friends of Nolan who have suffered a tragic loss.”
“The investigation will lead where it will,” he added. “But there’s no indication that there was anything regarding race that led to this unfortunate situation.”
Ocean Springs grieves
Over the weekend, hundreds peacefully gathered on the streets of Ocean Springs to call attention to Wells’ death. They chanted his name and carried handmade signs. “Justice for Nolan Wells,” one read. “Hope for Nolan,” said another.
“We want answers,” one attendee told . “It’s about the truth, and it’s about transparency.”
Students and staff in the Ocean Springs School District were also invited last week to the high school auditorium, where they held a grief session.
“Our community is hurting,” Ron Chambers, who serves on the district’s Board of Trustees, recently . “Let us not become trapped by gossip, rumors, backbiting, or sensationalism. Those things only fuel conflict and prolong pain.”
Wells’ mother has posted on social media pleading that users report videos generated by artificial intelligence, which she said are spreading false information about her son’s death. She has also called out fake fundraising accounts purporting to support her family. Others in Ocean Springs are condemning online actors they say are using the tragedy for personal gain.
Ocean Springs’ Nolan Wells runs the ball down the field during a game against Gulfport at Milner Stadium in Gulfport on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Ocean Springs beat Gulfport 30-7.
Hannah Ruhoff | Sun Herald
The digital chaos is frustrating some residents across Ocean Springs, a city of about 19,000 people usually known for its towering oaks, beaches and laid-back art scene. Many leaders are urging their city to come together with compassion.
“Everybody’s upset over the whole ordeal,” said Kevin Wade, an Ocean Springs alderman. “Until law enforcement and everybody gets all the investigations done, nobody’s really going to know what’s going on.”
“Each and every step we take together supporting Nolan’s memory, his family, his friends, and unity is a step in the right direction,” Bobby Cox wrote on social media.
The people who loved Wells recall him as a kind and friendly role model and peacemaker. He worked hard on his football career, first in Ocean Springs, then at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Lampley, Wells’ former coach, called him “a joy to be around.”
Law enforcement have said speculation surrounding Wells’ death is damaging to their investigation, because rumors and public scrutiny may intimidate teenage witnesses from coming forward. Lampley added that observers should await whatever facts the family chooses to share.
“Give them the respect they deserve,” he said.
Staff writer Poet Wolfe contributed reporting.