FAMU Students Walk for Justice for Nolan Wells
Students and community members marched at Florida A&M University to honor 18-year-old Nolan Wells and stand against gun violence.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Secondary Education
More than 50 people gathered at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Oct. 28, for a Walk for Justice honoring Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old Mississippi student-athlete. The walk moved from the Polkinghorne Village Breezeway to the Eternal Flame.
Why it matters
The walk came after a grand jury found insufficient evidence for criminal charges in Wells's death, leaving the cause and manner of death undetermined in the state autopsy. For Tallahassee, it offered a public space for students to voice concerns about violence and the unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Nolan Wells vanished after celebrating July 4, 2026, with friends on Horn Island off the Gulf Coast, and his body was found two days later. The state autopsy report, released Sept. 24, classified the cause and manner of death as undetermined and noted bruising on the back of his head.
The players
Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University is a historically Black public university in Tallahassee, Florida, and the host campus for the Walk for Justice.
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is a civil rights organization founded in 1909 that advocates for racial justice and equality.
The details
Miya Dennis organized the walk to give community members a space to discuss their concerns. The event was hosted by the FAMU Chapter of Helping Black Communities Unite Inc. and joined by the NAACP, the Student Government Association, and Rise.
Timeline
July 4, 2026: Wells celebrated with friends on Horn Island before vanishing.
Two days later: Wells's body was found.
Sept. 21, 2025: A grand jury report found insufficient evidence for criminal charges.
Sept. 24, 2025: The state autopsy report was released, leaving the cause and manner of death undetermined.
Wednesday, Oct. 28: The Walk for Justice began at 6 p.m. at the Polkinghorne Village Breezeway.
Campus Voice
Student-led walks at Florida A&M University have become a recurring form of response when unresolved deaths of young Black men draw community attention. The Walk for Justice for Nolan Wells follows that pattern, as students moved from the Polkinghorne Village Breezeway to the Eternal Flame to address gun violence.
Students and community members in Tallahassee gained an organized public forum to discuss violence and the unanswered questions around Wells's death. Attendees were invited to share concerns and participate in poster-making and the march itself.
The takeaway
Unresolved cases can leave families and communities seeking answers long after official reports are released. Community walks and student organizing offer a way for residents to keep attention on questions that remain open.
Further reading
For more on campus life and student activism, explore Secondary Education coverage in Tallahassee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The FAMUAN.
