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Metro Atlanta pastor demands answers in case of young Black man found dead on Mississippi beach
By Bryan Mims at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 12, 2026
· 2 min read
At a church service Sunday, a prominent civil rights attorney addressed the death of a young man off the Mississippi coast. Nolan Wells took a boat trip with friends on July Fourth, but he never returned and was later found dead.Channel 2’s Bryan Mims said the pastor is also questioning the inves...
Key takeaway Channel 2’s Bryan Mims said the pastor is also questioning the investigation.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The death of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college football player from Atlanta , has sparked outrage and demands for answers from the community. Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is calling for prompt action, emphasizing that this is not just a Mississippi issue, but a Black America issue. The fact that Wells' friends, all of whom are white, returned from the trip without him, but with his phone, raises significant red flags. The hiring of civil rights attorney Ben Crump to investigate and the commissioning of an independent autopsy suggest that the family does not trust the official investigation. As the community awaits the results of the autopsy and the investigation, Atlanta residents are watching closely to see how this case unfolds, given Mississippi's complex racial history. The planned memorial service for Wells in Mississippi will likely draw attendees from Atlanta, further solidifying the city's connection to this case.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 12, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? At a church service Sunday, a prominent civil rights attorney addressed the death of a young man off the Mississippi coast. Nolan Wells took a boat trip with friends on July Fourth, but he never returned and was later found dead.Channel 2’s Bryan Mims said the pastor is also questioning the inves...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 12, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Bryan Mims at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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