An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells found his cause and manner of death to be undetermined. Wells, 21, died following an interaction with Oxford Police Department officers on January 4. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the NAACP announced the findings of the private examination during a news conference on Friday.
The independent report, conducted by a private pathologist, stated that the cause of death is pending further investigation and the receipt of additional records. This follows an initial state autopsy by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which also labeled the cause of death as undetermined. Authorities have previously stated that Wells was being taken into custody when he became unresponsive.
Attorneys representing the Wells family say the independent report noted physical injuries, including blunt force trauma to the head and neck, as well as abrasions on the body. The Oxford Police Department has stated that its officers followed standard procedures during the encounter. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting an inquiry into the incident, which remains ongoing.