Sharpton urges Democratic House to launch probe into teen's death on Mississippi island
Al Sharpton asked Democrats to investigate the July 4 death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi if they gain control of the House.
At a National Association of Black Journalists event in Atlanta, Al Sharpton joined civil-rights attorney Ben Crump and the relatives of Nolan Wells to demand a thorough investigation into the teenager’s death after a July 4 boat outing to Horn Island, Mississippi, with three white youths. Sharpton argued that Mississippi’s history of racial injustice makes the unclear circumstances especially concerning and criticized law-enforcement statements that dismissed the possibility of a crime before an inquiry.
He suggested that a Democratic takeover of the House in January, with Hakeem as speaker, could empower the Judiciary Committee to subpoena relevant authorities. To aid the search for answers, Sharpton, actor-producer Tyler Perry and former NFL player Terrell Owens have offered a combined $125,000 reward for tips. The call for a probe underscores broader demands for transparency and accountability in the case.
Why it matters
The demand for a congressional inquiry could pressure Mississippi officials to clarify a suspicious death with racial overtones.
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