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Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell was an American security guard and later law enforcement officer who became known for alerting authorities to a bomb at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Richard Jewell was an American security guard and later law enforcement officer who became known for alerting authorities to a bomb at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was initially praised for helping evacuate the area, then falsely identified as a suspect in the bombing before being publicly exonerated.

Early life

Richard Jewell was born Richard White in Danville, Virginia, in 1962. He later took the name Richard Allensworth Jewell.

Centennial Olympic Park bombing

While working security at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Jewell found a suspicious bag and alerted police. The evacuation he helped initiate occurred before the bomb detonated.

Investigation and exoneration

Jewell was soon named publicly as a suspect by media outlets and investigated by the FBI. He was later cleared, and authorities determined he was not responsible for the bombing.

Later life and death

Jewell later served in Georgia law enforcement, including as a police officer and deputy sheriff. He died in 2007 at age 44.

Key facts

  • Jewell discovered a suspicious backpack containing a pipe bomb at Centennial Olympic Park on July 27, 1996.
  • He helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded, which saved lives.
  • He was initially treated as a hero, then became the FBI's main suspect in the bombing investigation.
  • He was later publicly exonerated.
  • The bombing killed one person and injured more than 100 others.
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Canadian context

Richard Jewell’s case is widely studied in Canadian journalism and media ethics courses as an example of suspect identification, press reporting, and the consequences of premature public accusation.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Richard Jewell?
He was an American security guard and law enforcement officer best known for discovering the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Why is Richard Jewell famous?
He is known for helping prevent greater casualties in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing and for later being falsely accused of carrying it out.
Was Richard Jewell charged with the bombing?
No. He was investigated and publicly suspected, but he was never charged and was later exonerated.
What happened at Centennial Olympic Park?
A pipe bomb exploded during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, killing one person and injuring many others.
What did Richard Jewell do after the bombing?
He later worked in Georgia law enforcement, including as a police officer and deputy sheriff.
When did Richard Jewell die?
He died on August 29, 2007, in Woodbury, Georgia.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Jewell
    Supports: Birth and death details; role in the Atlanta Olympic bombing; later exoneration.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jewell
    Supports: Biographical details; discovery of the bomb; initial suspicion; law-enforcement career.
  3. Sky News — https://news.sky.com/story/richard-jewell-the-1996-olympic-bomb-attack-and-the-hero-who-became-a-villain-11920671
    Supports: Public suspicion, exoneration, and later death.
  4. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/richard-jewell-true-story-movie
    Supports: Bomb discovery, evacuation, and later life details.