Richard Jewell
What is richard jewell?
Key facts
| Born | December 17, 1962, Danville, Virginia, U.S.[1] |
|---|---|
| Died | August 28 or 29, 2007[2] |
| Known for | Alerting police and helping evacuate people before the Centennial Olympic Park bomb exploded[1] |
| Occupations | Security guard, police officer, deputy sheriff[1] |
| Former suspect | Atlanta Olympic Games bombing of 1996[2] |
Richard Jewell was an American security guard who found and reported the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, then was publicly treated as a suspect before being cleared.
Context
Richard Jewell was a security guard who found a backpack with three pipe bombs at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta [1]. He alerted police and helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded [1]. The bombing killed one person and injured more than 100, though sources differ on the exact count [2]. Jewell was later named the primary suspect by the FBI and media [2], but he was never arrested or charged [2]. He was eventually exonerated [2]. Sources also differ on his death date, listing either August 28 or 29, 2007 [1]. The 2019 film *Richard Jewell* is a biographical drama about him [1].
Documented claims
- Richard Jewell discovered a backpack containing three pipe bombs at Centennial Olympic Park. [1]
- He helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded. [1]
- The bombing killed one person and injured more than 100, according to different sources. [2]
- He was later exonerated and cleared of wrongdoing. [2]
Questions and answers
What happened to Richard Jewell in real life?
He found the bomb at Centennial Olympic Park and helped evacuate people, then was wrongly treated as a suspect before being cleared [1].
Did the FBI ever apologize to Richard Jewell?
The sources do not mention an apology from the FBI.
How much compensation did Richard Jewell get?
The sources do not mention any compensation amount.
How much of the Richard Jewell movie is true?
The film is a biographical drama based on his story, but the sources do not detail which parts are accurate [1].
Sources
- Richard Jewell | Olympic Park Bombing, Biography, Death & Movie ... — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Richard Jewell Case Study — columbia.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)