The lawsuit, filed Monday in a Mississippi district court, names the three young men — Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour — as plaintiffs through their fathers, as they are minors under state law. On September 26, Owens shared an Instagram video that suggested the friends had deleted evidence from Wells's phone after his death. "Arrest them immediately!! Like yesterday," Owens captioned the post.
The complaint alleges that Owens's post has caused severe harm. "Due to the conduct of Owens and many other less-famous individuals, these completely innocent young men have been subjected to thousands of death threats, face-to-face harassment, and daily fear and ridicule from complete strangers," the complaint states. "They've even been refused service at public establishments. Their lives, and the lives of their family members, will never be the same."
Owens could not be reached for comment. The friends' counsel also indicated they intend to take legal action against other public figures who have been vocal about Wells's death, including Al Sharpton and Sunny Hostin of The View.
Wells died on July 4 after a boating trip to a Mississippi island. His body was found two days later on the island. The circumstances of his death, including that Wells was African American and had been partying with a mostly white friend group, fueled public suspicion and online speculation.
In late September, a Mississippi grand jury declined to file criminal charges, finding that Wells's death appeared "consistent with drowning." Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath has said the death was not racially motivated. However, Wells's parents and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump continue to call for further investigations, citing an autopsy report that found Wells's airways and stomach were empty, which the family says undermines the drowning conclusion.