A grand jury in Jackson County, Mississippi, has unanimously declined to bring criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Black man. District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced the decision late Monday, stating there was no credible evidence to warrant criminal charges.
Wells was found dead after going missing following a July 4 boating trip and party with white friends on Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The District Attorney's announcement forcefully rejected months of speculation that race played a role in the teen's death.
The grand jury met from September 14 to September 18, during which it issued 132 subpoenas and considered evidence from 43 witnesses and investigators. The proceedings included a review of forensic reports, photographs, videos, GPS data, and mobile phone data, as well as an independent investigation conducted by the Wells family.
Despite the grand jury's conclusion, the family of Nolan Wells has swiftly questioned the decision.