Nolan Wells’ body was found after a July 4 boat trip. His death has fueled speculation, grief and racial tension

 On July 4, Nolan Wells set out to celebrate Independence Day on a popular barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

In photos from the boat that day, the 18-year-old towers above his friends, his arm casually slung around their shoulders as he smiles for the camera.

But he also stands out for another reason: Wells appears to be the only Black man among the group.

Later that afternoon, when his friends returned to the dock, Wells was not with them. Hours later, his family reported him missing.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department launched a search that would soon end tragically when Wells’ body was recovered on the island Monday.

Now, investigators are appealing to witnesses on the island on July 4 for any information about the moments leading up to his death. But on social media, online speculation has placed Wells’ death at the center of a fierce debate over race relations in the United States.