Richard Jewell
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For other people named Richard Jewell, see Richard Jewell (disambiguation).
| Richard A. Jewell | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1962 |
| Died | August 29, 2007 (aged 44) Woodbury, Georgia |
| Known for | Falsely accused of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing |
Richard A. Jewell (December 17, 1962 – August 29, 2007) was an American security guard who became known in connection with the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Jewell, working as a private security guard for Piedmont College,[1] discovered a pipe bomb, alerted police, and helped to evacuate the area before it exploded, saving many people from injury or potential death. Initially hailed by the media as a hero, Jewell later was considered a suspect.
Despite having never been charged, he underwent what was considered by many to be a "trial by media" with great toll on his personal and professional life. Eventually he was exonerated completely: Eric Robert Rudolph[2][3] In 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue publicly thanked Jewell on behalf of the state of Georgia for saving the lives of those at the Olympics.[4] was later found to have been the bomber.