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Funeral Held for Mississippi Teenager Found Dead After July 4 Boating Trip

Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found after a July 4 boating trip off the Mississippi coast.

Sourced from Associated Press
Published July 20, 2026 at 12:12 AM EDT
Funeral Held for Mississippi Teenager Found Dead After July 4 Boating Trip

The Facts

Who
Nolan Xavier Wells (deceased), Rev. Al Sharpton, family members, and local investigators.
What
Funeral service for Nolan Xavier Wells and calls for further investigation into his death.
When
July 2026 (Funeral), following a July 4 disappearance.
Where
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Why
Wells died after a July 4 boat trip; his family and civil rights leaders are seeking more information regarding the cause of death.

Funeral services were held Saturday for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month. The ceremony took place in Mississippi and featured a eulogy by the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Wells disappeared on July 4 during a boat outing with friends to Ship Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi coast. According to local authorities, his body was discovered days later following a search operation. The specific cause and manner of death have not yet been released pending final autopsy and toxicology reports.

During the service, Sharpton called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death. The family has requested transparency from law enforcement regarding the sequence of events leading up to the incident. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active.

This story was rewritten from reporting at Associated Press. Read the original for full detail.

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