Overview
- The 18-year-old went to Horn Island with friends on July 4 and search teams found his body in the water near the island on July 6, with officials confirming identity by dental records.
- Jackson County authorities say the investigation is active, they have not determined a cause or manner of death, and they report no evidence of foul play so far pending autopsy and toxicology results.
- Wells’ family has rejected friends’ accounts of his final hours, retained civil‑rights lawyer Ben Crump, and sent the body to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy funded in part by Colin Kaepernick.
- Digital evidence is under forensic review after family members said Wells’ phone and keys were in others’ possession and Snapchat content from July 4 appears missing, while viral videos produce conflicting witness claims.
- Public pressure has grown through protests and high‑profile support, including a $100,000 donation from Byron Allen and Tyler Perry covering funeral costs, increasing calls for full transparency and release of unedited footage.