The Wire’s Real Omar Wore A Wire On A Kingpin Who Got 47 Years

You’ve heard of Omar Little, the stick-up man from The Wire who robs drug dealers and lives by a code. But have you heard of the man who inspired him? Donnie Andrews robbed drug dealers in West Baltimore, took part in killings for a heroin boss, then walked into a housing project courtyard wearing a hidden microphone. The Washington Post reported that the boss, Warren Boardley, got 47 years. Andrews got life and was paroled in 2005. This is the documented story, what is attributed to Andrews himself, and where the sources disagree. Sources: David Simon, “West Side Story,” Baltimore Sun Magazine (1990); VICE, “Baltimore - The Real-Life Omar Little” (June 29, 2009); The Washington Post, “Leader of Baltimore Drug Gang Receives a 47-Year Prison Term” (June 23, 1989); The Baltimore Sun, “Donnie Andrews, inspiration for Omar character on ‘The Wire,’ dies” (Dec. 14, 2012); The Independent (2009 profile); Wikipedia on Donnie Andrews and Fran Boyd. SUBSCRIBE to Bloody Reports for new documentaries several times a week: https://www.youtube.com/@bloodyreports?sub_confirmation=1 EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE Full playlists on Hollywood vs Reality, Bumpy Johnson and Harlem, the kingpins of Queens, Brooklyn, Detroit, Chicago, DC and Baltimore, prison kings, hitmen and stick-up crews are all on the channel. ABOUT THIS CHANNEL Bloody Reports tells the true, documented history of the American underworld, the people Hollywood borrowed from, rewrote, or left out entirely. DISCLAIMER This is a historical documentary made for educational and commentary purposes. Nothing here endorses, promotes or glorifies crime or violence. Some wording is adjusted to meet platform guidelines. Where accounts conflict, we say so. #BloodyReports #TrueCrime #Documentary #BlackHistory #TheWire #Baltimore Business inquiries: [email protected]