The Rev. Al Sharpton is in the crosshairs of Nolan Wells’ friends, who say they are taking legal action against one of the nation’s most prominent civil rights activists.
Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour accuse Sharpton of making repeated insinuations during media appearances and public events that the three young men had something to do with Nolan Wells’ death. The trio sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Rev on Friday, with their legal team prepared to file a defamation lawsuit if he doesn’t back off immediately. The lawyers are demanding a public apology and retraction of all such statements, though they’re reserving the right to pursue litigation regardless of whether Sharpton complies. Sharpton allegedly used a prayer vigil held on what would have been Wells’ 19th birthday to directly call out the three friends, asking them to come forward during a Zoom call. Hudson, Pitalo, and Seymour view this as weaponizing a memorial service meant to honor their friend against them personally.
Wells, 18, died during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island off the Mississippi coast. While his cause of death has not been determined, photos of the Black teen surrounded by White friends during the trip led to widespread speculation, vitriol and threats from across the country.
Sharpton delivered the eulogy at Wells’ funeral and has frequently appeared at news conferences alongside Crump, demanding answers about what happened to the teen. The attorneys, J. Tyler Cox and Edward Paltzik, allege Sharpton falsely implied the three young men were involved in Wells’ death, withheld or altered his phone, concealed his keys or obstructed the investigation. They demand Sharpton publicly apologize as well as retract and delete his statements within 10 days, warning they will sue him if he doesn’t comply.
The letter also presents their account of the trip: Wells traveled to Horn Island as part of a 30-person boating party before Hudson, Pitalo and Seymour left with others while Wells stayed behind. The three friends later contacted Wells’ family and authorities and helped search for him, the attorneys say. The letter says they never possessed or accessed Wells’ phone and were not involved in his disappearance or death.