As some of you already know, I had a pretty interesting day yesterday. I'm still digesting it all.

First, the good news. In this housing mess, I managed to recoup most of my money - several thousand dollars. Let's just say it was a very, very VERY dumb decision on my part - sort of like getting taken on a bad stock. But I'm still kicking myself for how stupid I was, paying a purported realtor in advance. What can I say - I was desperate, I really wanted to have a place waiting for me down here for my own peace of mind, and they simply don't know what "month-to-month" means in Venezuela. I just had no idea how things happen down here...no idea.

But I was lucky. This realtor also had no idea - no idea that the AP would have my back, and fight all the way to help recoup expenses. They helped me file a complaint with INDECU, the consumer complaint agency, and, in the presence of two INDECU agents who reviewed my case, the realtor was forced to sign an agreement to pay back the bulk of my cash. I still took a hit in the hundreds...but it could have been far, far worse.

So, with Diunny's help, I recovered most of my funds yesterday, and for about an hour yesterday I was stoked. This whole business was behind me. I already had a byline, and now I could invest myself fully in reporting down here. It was over.



And then...something happened. One of those things that may or may not change how you look at the world.

My bureau chief just sent off an email to the J-school powers-that-be, and he wrote a pretty good summary. I'll let him do the honors:

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Dear [J-school Powers-That-Be],

I'd like to let you know Dickie was a victim of an armed robbery yesterday. He was not hurt, though an AP employee who was with him at the time sustained minor injuries when he was hit in the head with a handgun by one of the robbers. The three gunmen stole about $930 from Dickie.

We believe the robbery may be related to a conflict that Dickie has had with a purported real estate agent who promised him an apartment over the Internet and then attempted to keep his money while not delivering
on the apartment. During the last week and a half, Dickie and the same AP employee who was attacked have been working to recover the money through a complaint to the consumer protection bureau. Shortly after receiving the bulk of the funds back from the real estate agent, Dickie was able to deposit most of the money into a bank account. Within 30 minutes, the two were robbed at gunpoint.

Dickie is doing OK, and we plan to support him however needed to get through this and make sure he's safe. We have moved him out of the hotel where he was staying and plan to help him obtain alternate temporary housing. If you have any questions...

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There's really not much I could write to do justice to what happened yesterday. This all went down outside of the INDECU building - we stopped there on the way back to the newsroom to thank the agents for their help.

I would just say that having a gun pointed at your chest, in the moment, is more surreal than anything that resembles "terrifying," although you find yourself willing the person holding the gun to not pull the trigger.

There were three who ambushed us, and one of them grabbed Diunny, who had the cash in a fanny-pack strapped to his waist, while another trained his .45 at me. The third waited on his motorcycle, several paces away. When the guy had trouble unhooking the fanny pack, he started pistol-whipping Diunny over the head. That was one of the most anguishing moments I have ever had. There was nothing I could do.

Fortunately, Diunny is gonna be ok - he needed stitches.

But, they grabbed my backpack, which contained Diunny's organizer. They have the keys to his apartment, from the fanny pack, as well as his address and even his class schedule. He is staying with family.

Here's the really scary thing - this assault was undoubtedly premeditated...they must have followed us from the bank. I even had my wallet out when they ambushed us, checking how much cash I had so I could tip the INDECU agents for their incredible help...when they drew their guns my hands went up - wallet in hand - and they never took it. They went straight for Diunny's fanny pack, and they grabbed my back pack - sliding it over the arm with the wallet. They knew exactly what they were looking for.

Thing is, we went straight from the realtor's bank to a Citibank across the way, where we deposited the bulk of my funds. They only got a fraction of what they were probably expecting. They probably knew where I was staying, so I stayed at the bureau chief's last night and checked out first thing this morning. I'll be staying with a co-worker until we can figure something out.

If I can tell you anything...just don't come to Caracas. Ever. This is a different world.

I'm may be covering this international tourism fair that's happening here this afternoon (countries like Syria and Cuba have tents set up). I'm not gonna let this get me down.