Venezuelan gang presence at apartments: Aurora police respond.
The Aurora Police Department interim Chief Heather Morris denies that gang members have taken control of the complex.
An update was shared by Aurora police following the emergence of a video that purportedly depicted heavily armed Venezuelan migrant gang members attempting to gain entry to an apartment in Colorado.
The Aurora Police Department interim Chief Heather Morris stated in a video from a news conference posted to the department's official X account late Friday evening that "the apartment complex is not under the control of gang members."
"She stated that while there may be gang members living in the community, they have not taken over the complex."
An apartment in The Edge at Lowry complex was invaded by several men with handguns and one with a scoped rifle, as seen on a disturbing doorbell camera footage.
The group is believed to be Tren de Aragua, or TdA, a transnational gang from Venezuela with a reported membership of 5,000. Their motto is "real until death," which translates to "real hasta la muerte."
The Aurora Police Department has stated that TdA components are active in the area and that APD has been gathering evidence to link the gang to local crimes.
"Nevertheless, as we have previously stated and as the DEA concurs, it is inappropriate for the city and APD to make any definitive statements regarding particular incidents or disclose information about law enforcement tactics and procedures at this time."
The department stated that, according to its initial investigation, it believes that reports of TdA influence in Aurora are unique.
Over 100 crimes across the nation have been linked to TdA, according to reporting from the New York Post.
The Aurora Police Department has apprehended "Cookie Monster" as part of an investigation into a July 28 shooting.
Please report crimes committed against you to your local law enforcement agencies and not remain silent victims, we urge all community members, including migrants.
The city of Aurora, led by Mayor Mike Coffman, has commenced the procedure of evicting transnational armed gang TdA from its occupied apartment buildings.
The Aurora City Attorney's Office is preparing court documents to request an emergency court order to clear apartment buildings where Venezuelan gang activity has been occurring by declaring the properties a "Criminal Nuisance."
"To regain control of these properties, a municipal judge must issue an order. Meanwhile, the law enforcement task force will continue to disrupt and arrest Venezuelan gang members in these buildings. In my opinion, the best course of action is to shut down these buildings and prevent any future occurrences."
Crime victims can anonymously report crimes to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by calling 720-913-7867, officials stated.
The Aurora Police Department declined to provide a comment to Planet Chronicle Digital.
Planet Chronicle' Jasmine Baehr and Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.
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