NAACP Office of General Counsel Joins Nolan Wells’ Family Legal Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2026
Contact: communications@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON — The NAACP's Office of General Counsel today announced that it is joining the legal team surrounding the death of Nolan Wells, a young Black man who died under circumstances that remain insufficiently explained.
"We're taking up this fight to search for truth and to demand transparency concerning the tragic death of Nolan Wells," said Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP. "Our investigation will be victim-focused, community-based and sensitive to the ongoing pain felt by Nolan Wells' family and his community. Drawing on the Association's long history of pushing for full and fair investigations when Black lives are lost under suspicious circumstances, we will bring additional investigative and legal resources to bear and ensure that no stone is left unturned in the quest for truth and accountability for Nolan's family."
For more than a century, the NAACP has challenged systems that fail to fully investigate and account for the deaths of Black people, particularly when early explanations leave families and communities with more questions than answers. The Association's legal work has consistently centered on ensuring that law enforcement and government officials exercise the full force of their authority to uncover the truth and deliver justice.
"The world is watching, and Nolan Wells' family deserves a thorough accounting of what happened," said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP. "Too often, the deaths of young Black people are dismissed, downplayed, or inadequately investigated unless we demand answers. Our involvement in this case is part of our ongoing commitment to make sure those answers are pursued with urgency and respect for Black lives."
As part of its role, the NAACP's Office of General Counsel will work alongside the Wells legal team, which includes civil rights attorney Ben Crump, to press for comprehensive fact-finding, advocate for transparency from relevant authorities, and support efforts to ensure that Nolan's family receives the information and accountability they are due.
At the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago last month, Nolan Wells' family, the NAACP, and attorney Crump announced the results of an independent autopsy.
The autopsy's findings that Nolan Wells' manner of death remains undetermined underscores the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation.
That concern is not unique to this case. According to the CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System published in 2022, Black males experienced the highest rate of deaths classified as being of undetermined intent among males, at 5.8 deaths per 100,000 population. This troubling disparity highlights why unanswered questions surrounding deaths involving young Black men cannot be met with silence or delay, and why families deserve complete transparency and accountability from those charged with investigating them.
As the search for answers continues, the NAACP Office of General Counsel remains committed to pursuing every available avenue to uncover the truth surrounding Nolan Wells' death. The Association will stand with Wells' family in demanding transparency, accountability, and a complete investigation, while continuing its long-standing fight to ensure that no Black life is overlooked, or dismissed.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF – was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.