Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of bombings and deaths. Readers are advised to exercise caution.
1996 Olympic Bombing: Richard Jewell, the Wrong Man | Retro Report | The New York Times
In July 1996, a 40-pound pipe bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park, killing a woman and injuring more than 100 people. The explosion occurred in the middle of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Several media outlets reported that a security guard named Richard Jewell found a suspicious backpack in the park and decided to evacuate the scene. Although Jewell saved many lives, he soon became one of the suspects. After an investigation was launched, Jewell received negative media attention.
According to The New York Times, Jewell found an abandoned backpack in Centennial Olympic Park. With the help of authorities, he evacuated nearly 100 people from the area. Minutes later, however, the bomb exploded, killing a woman. Another person died of a heart attack immediately after the explosion. Jewell said in an interview at the time that he wanted to save everyone, but unfortunately, he was unable to do so. He said, "All I wanted to do was get everyone out of the area." However, a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggested that Jewell may have been a person of interest in the bombing.
As a result, authorities raided Richard Jewell's home and searched it thoroughly. The New York Times reported that he was not allowed to leave and remained in his home. Later, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted people who knew Jewell. According to the acquaintances, Jewell had a backpack that looked similar to the one found at the crime scene. On the other hand, certain officials at Jewell's workplace noted that the prime suspect appeared "overly zealous" on the day of the explosion. In the meantime, authorities continued their investigation into Richard Jewell.
