A body matching the description of missing Mississippi teen Nolan Wells was found during a search on Horn Island, according to authorities. DNA identification is still pending. What we know

A massive multi-agency rescue operation is actively underway near Horn Island, Mississippi, as search and rescue teams race against time to locate an 18-year-old Ocean Springs man who vanished during a holiday outing with friends.

Nolan Xavier Wells, a student-athlete who plays football for Southwest Mississippi Community College, was last seen on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4, on the remote barrier island. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, alongside federal and state maritime assets, has established a primary command post at the Lake Mars Boat Launch in Ocean Springs to coordinate tracking sweeps across the water and land perimeters.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that Wells was last spotted at approximately 3:00 p.m. on the island during a heavily crowded Independence Day celebration that drew hundreds of holiday boaters and visitors to the Gulf Coast.

In an updated press release issued Sunday, investigators clarified crucial physical details regarding his last known appearance, stating that Wells was wearing blue swim trunks, sunglasses, and no shirt. Initial preliminary tracking accounts had incorrectly reported him wearing black shorts, prompting authorities to release a verified photo taken of Wells on the island shortly before he became separated from his group.