1:43 PM -- Al Sharpton tells TMZ ... "I welcome the lawsuit and will have my attorneys be in touch with theirs to arrange for them to serve me so we can get in court."
Sharpton says ... "I convened a prayer vigil on what would have been Nolan's 19th birthday and three of the young men joined the Zoom and I asked them to come forward. While I did not know their names, so I did not defame them, we have a right and a duty to raise questions that were raised to me by Nolan's parents."
He continues ... "From the onset of this case, I publicly stated that I welcomed any litigation that would legally require every person that was with Nolan Wells before his death to be forced to answer questions under oath. Litigation requires depositions, discovery and a complete examination of the facts."
Sharpton concludes ... "I have been involved in the case for one sole reason: To help Nolan's parents Christine and Elmore find the truth in what happened to their beloved son through a transparent and accountable investigation. If a lawsuit is a catalyst for the truth, then it is welcomed and it will not deter NAN or me from continuing to stand with the family in their pursuit of justice."
Nolan Wells' friends are tired of Reverend Al Sharpton insinuating they had something to do with his death ... and they've sent a legal letter demanding he stop.
The legal team representing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour sent the letter to the reverend Friday ... claiming they're ready to file a civil lawsuit against him for making repeated false statements suggesting that they had something to do with Nolan's death.
The lawyers highlight a series of statements made by Sharpton -- including during an interview with TMZ last month -- which they say imply the three friends aren't being forthcoming -- and may even have something to do with Nolan's death.
Nolan Wells' mom Christine Wonsley is still digging for answers ... and now she's going straight after the marine towing companies his friends called on the day he disappeared.
TMZ obtained two new subpoenas filed Thursday on behalf of Nolan's estate -- one for Sea Tow Services International and another for Ward Marine Services, which operates as Sea Tow South Mississippi.
For Sea Tow, she wants basically everything connected to the July 4 incident from 2 PM to 8 PM ... including calls, recordings, dispatch records and documents showing who handled the response.
As investigators continue to put together clues regarding Nolan Wells' mysterious death, officials revealed it's been years since someone has drowned off Horn Island.
The Jackson County coroner told PEOPLE they have no recorded drowning deaths at the Mississippi barrier island within the last six years.
But officials did tell the outlet there was a drowning death investigation at nearby Petit Bois Island within the last several years.
Plus, they said a teenage girl got stuck in the waters at nearby Dauphin Island and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Nolan Wells would have turned 19 today ... and three of the friends who were with him before his death joined a virtual vigil honoring his life.
Warren Hudson,Jax Pitaloand Morgan Seymour participated in the National Action Network's noon prayer vigil for Nolan ... appearing on Zoom with their cameras on and microphones muted.
Attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik, who represents the three friends, tells TMZ ... they wanted to honor Nolan on his birthday ... and he shared a statement from the young men.
The NAACP joined Nolan Wells' family in their legal fight for answers ... and the organization is saying enough is enough as questions swirl about the teen's mysterious death.
The NAACP said Monday it has offered additional investigative resources to Nolan's family ... demanding "truth and transparency" in the case that's captivated the nation.
As you know, Nolan went missing after taking a boat out to Horn Island with friends on the Fourth of July. His body was found days later in the water, near where he was last seen alive.
An attorney for Nolan Wells' family says they're ready to examine his phone ... but they're waiting on the Jackson County DA's Office to set the date.
Liza Park -- a member of Ben Crump's team -- said Thursday the DA's office, the family's forensic team and possibly the FBI have agreed to jointly download and examine the device.
The plan, according to Park, is to examine the phone one time with everyone present ... but they're still waiting for prosecutors to provide the time and place.
One of Nolan Wells' friends is calling out the late teen's mother ... saying her social media posts were at least partially responsible for some of the hate being thrown their way.
Jax claims that -- aside from wishing "Nolan could still be here" -- "his mom blasting us on social media from the get-go" triggered a huge media frenzy.
Nolan Wells' friends say they wish they had never gone to Horn Island on the Fourth of July ... believing Nolan would still be alive if they had stayed home.
TMZ obtained exclusive clips from the group's sit-down with YouTuber Brandon Tatumand their attorney, J. Tyler Cox ... ahead of the full interview dropping Monday on "The Officer Tatum Show" ... and his friends talk regret, race and more.
Warren Hudson,Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour open up about the tragedy and the allegations that followed ... including claims race played a role in Nolan's death.
Senator Rand Paul has made it clear ... he wants to see Anthony Fauci in an orange jumpsuit, and people are increasingly alarmed over Ariana's appearance. So we gotta ask ...
Nolan Wells' friends set out Friday to Horn Island after launching an investigation of their own into the death of the teen ... and the visit was intense.
Warren Hudson and Jax Pitalo took their lawyers, J. Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik, to inspect the Mississippi barrier island ... and a realization hit them like a ton of bricks.
Cox tells TMZ ... things got raw for the boys ... "The trip was tough for Warren and Jax because that’s the last place they saw their best friend. A couple of times we had to pause and give them their space.” He pointed out one of those places included the site where Nolan’s body was discovered.
Nolan Wells' friends are launching an investigation of their own ... with their attorneys heading to Horn Island to get a firsthand look at where the 18-year-old disappeared, and where he was found dead.
Attorneys J. Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik tell TMZ in a joint statement ... they, along with their clients, plan to inspect the Mississippi barrier island Friday as they begin investigating Nolan's death on behalf of their clients -- Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour.
They stress they won't be gathering evidence during the visit ... saying the purpose is to understand the island's "layout and dynamics." Paltzik "needs to lay eyes on the island himself."
The man accused of making chilling threats over Nolan Wells' death had a message for the FBI as he was hauled to jail -- justice for Nolan.
According to a newly filed FBI report, obtained by TMZ, Joseph Alfredo Vasquez Dumarce was arrested July 29 at a West Sacramento, CA library ... and while FBI agents drove him to jail, one agent told him she wouldn't question him about his federal charges -- but Dumarce apparently started talking anyway.
According to the report, Dumarce said he knew "what this was about" and acknowledged his words got him in trouble ... before adding, "I hope they get justice for that boy."
Warren Hudson's family is sharing some of the threatening messages they say they've received since Nolan Wells' death ... and they certainly sound alarming.
Warren's dad, Benjamin Hudson, sent audio to the SunHeraldthat allegedly features the various threats people have called in, including one that says ... "Justice for Nolan Wells. Son for a son."
Another caller says Ben is the "father of a murderer."
A different voicemail, filled with profanities and vulgar insults, said ... "Don't run now." The caller also said the Hudson family is "gonna get what the (expletive) coming to you."
8/6/2026 1:09 PM PST -- Attorney J. Tyler Cox and defamation lawyer Edward Andrew Paltzik tell TMZ in a joint statement ... We are proud to stand with and fight for three completely innocent young men: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour. Starting today, those who wish to continue trafficking in lies about these Good Ocean Springs People will be held accountable to the maximum extent of the law. We, on the other hand, will be focused solely on the truth, which is that these innocent young men had nothing whatsoever to do with the tragic death of Nolan Wells.
Nolan Wells' friends have had enough of being accused online over his death ... and they're bringing in one of President Trump's heavy hitters to fight back.
"The Officer Tatum Show" host Brandon Tatum reports attorney J. Tyler Cox -- who represents three of the young men caught up in the case -- has enlisted prominent defamation lawyer Edward Andrew Paltzik to help defend their names.
Paltzik has represented Trump in high-profile legal battles against CBS/Paramount, The New York Times, and BBC.
8/6/2026 11:56 AM PST -- According to multiple local outlets ... The Mississippi Board of Nursing has closed its investigation into an anonymous complaint filed against Nolan Wells' momChristine Wonsley.
Nolan Wells' mom, Christine Wonsley, is having her professional conduct called into question ... but her family attorney Ben Crump says it's just a bogus intimidation tactic.
Here's the deal ... Crump announced Wednesday that the Mississippi Board of Nursing has undertaken a professional misconduct investigation into Christine's job performance based on an anonymous complaint filed against her after Nolan's mysterious death.
Crump says the complaint is a "warning shot at a grieving mother, meant to pressure and scare her into staying quiet." He says the person who filed it is too embarrassed to put their name on it.
