"smoke crack got his job back!"

Ex-D.C. Mayor Barry Unharmed in Robbery
Jan 3rd - 9:09am



WASHINGTON -- Marion Barry says his life flashed before his eyes as he stared at the barrel of a pistol during a robbery in his home Monday night.

The former mayor and current D.C. council member was robbed at gunpoint at his apartment by some kids who had helped him carry his groceries.

He says young people often beg for money by his Southeast home, and he typically lets them earn it by carrying groceries. He says he feels hurt and betrayed by the teenage boys who knew who he was and called him "B" during the robbery.


Barry, 69, served four terms as mayor. In his third term, he was videotaped in 1990 in a hotel room smoking crack cocaine in an FBI sting. The following year, he served a six-month prison sentence.

He is awaiting sentencing later this month in federal court on his guilty plea to two misdemeanor counts stemming from his failure to file income tax returns in 2000.

Barry vows not to move from his home in Ward Eight, which he represents in the council. But he says he will push for tougher gun control laws.

Police recovered Barry's wallet, credit card and license. Police asked Barry not to say how much cash was taken.

(Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)