In the last week, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has allegedly received new footage of Horn Island on July 4th. According to TMZ, the video could possibly be “the last known image” of Nolan Xavier Wells. However, that remains unclear as the footage only shows a man matching Wells’ description from a sharp distance. Hours before this update, Nancy Grace began trending as social media users noted her applying pressure to the Nolan Wells’ case. Additionally, two celebrities have launched a reward fund, encouraging anyone with more information to come forward.
RELATED: Tributes Pour In As Nolan Xavier Wells Is Laid To Rest During Funeral Service (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)
Jackson County Police Reportedly Received New Video Last Week
TMZ was first to report the alleged new video that an unidentified person submitted to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office last week. According to the report, a detective working on Nolan Wells’ case accepted a copy of the footage. Additionally, an alleged source told the outlet that investigators are aware of the video.
The footage itself is a video pan of Horn Island on July 4. It’s only a few seconds long, but it shows more than 10 boats docked near the shoreline. Small groups and individuals can be seen on the boats and in the water. About midway through the clip, a Black man is seen from behind, standing on the back deck of a boat, bending over to seemingly grab something. His face is not fully visible, but the man appears to be wearing blue swimming trunks similar to those Nolan Wells last wore.
🚨 This new video from the day Nolan Wells went missing might reveal the first clues about who he was with during the last hours of the Horn Island 4th of July party. pic.twitter.com/tEmvnyi5u8
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 21, 2026
Al Sharpton & Tyler Perry Fund $100K Reward For Information
On Monday (July 20), Nolan Wells’ parents laid his body to rest in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. His family and friends gathered at the Center Pointe Church to honor his life. The funeral service was attended by Rev. Al Sharpton. There, he announced a reward of of $50,000 for anyone who can provide valuable information about the events of July 4, which culminated with Nolan’s disappearance and eventual death.
“I want to put up a reward of $50,000 for anybody who could give the information that will lead to an arrest and a conviction in the case of what happened,” Al Sharpton reportedly said. “He was not on that island by himself, somebody saw something and knows something. So, I didn’t come to make money. I came to give money. Stand up and tell the truth. Whatever it is, good or bad.”
Soon after the announcement, Sharpton revealed that Tyler Perry had texted him, matching his reward money. Both donations brought the fund up to $100,000.
“We just want the truth. That’s all. We just want the truth, and we want to thank Tyler Perry.”
Perry also previously volunteered to cover the costs of Nolan Wells’ funeral, while Colin Kaepernick funded an independent autopsy of the 18-year-old’s body in Washington D.C. Results of the independent autopsy and the coroner’s office autopsy have not yet been released. A toxicology report is also pending and could take weeks to complete. Jackson County police have already suggested there was no foul play involved, claiming Nolan Wells likely drowned—a summary his family has been deeply questioning. As previously reported, Wells’ body was found on July 6, two days after his disappearance, near the Horn Island shoreline. He was face down in the water and still wearing his beach clothing.
Social Media Reacts To Nancy Grace Highlighting Nolan Wells’ Case
But the newly reported footage and the $100,000 reward aren’t the only updates surrounding Nolan Wells case. Following the 18-year-old’s funeral, Nancy Grace entered the chat with an hour-long ‘Crime Stories’ segment on the investigation. She highlighted the alleged deleted texts, how his body was found, the GPS movements of the boat Nolan had traveled to Horn Island on, the girl he allegedly stayed behind to speak to and more.
Watch the segment below and keep scrolling for reactions to Nancy Grace stepping in.
