Aurora Police shared an update after a video was released showing purportedly heavily armed Venezuelan immigrant gang members attempting to break into a home. Colorado apartment.
“It is not as though gang members were occupying the apartment,” Aurora Police Interim Chief Heather Morris said in a video press conference posted to the department's official X account late Friday night.
“I'm not saying there aren't gang members living in this neighborhood,” she said, “but what we've learned here is that gang members are not occupying this property.”
Shocking doorbell camera footage showed several men armed with handguns and one with a scoped rifle breaking down the door to an apartment at The Edge at Raleigh complex for unknown reasons.
Immigrant gangs take over Colorado apartment building: 'Not an isolated incident,' former resident says
Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Heather Morris provided an update on the situation at the Edge at Raleigh Apartments late Friday, saying “gang members have not occupied the apartments.” (Council Member Daniel Jurinski/Aurora Police Department)
The group appears to be the Tren de Aragua (TdA), an international gang based in Venezuela that reportedly has 5,000 members and whose motto is “Genuine til death do us part” or “Genuine til death do us part.”
“We are aware that the TdA organization is operating in Aurora, and Aurora Police are gathering increasing evidence indicating the gang is involved in crime in the area,” Aurora police said in a statement about X.
“However, as we have stated previously, and as the DEA has stated as well, it is inappropriate for the City and APD to make conclusive statements about specific cases or provide details about enforcement strategies or activities at this time.”
Colorado city takes action after video of Venezuelan armed gang shared by local authorities goes viral
Residents say a group of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members have taken over an apartment in Aurora, Colorado, and are demanding rent in exchange for “protection.” (Edward Romero/Councillor Daniel Jurinski)
The department added that based on its initial investigative efforts, it believes reports of TdA effects in Aurora are isolated.
TdA is Over 100 crimes The New York Post reports that similar incidents are occurring across the country.
The Aurora Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that TdA leader “Cookie Monster” is in custody as part of the July 28 shooting investigation.
“We urge all community members, including members of immigrant communities, to report crimes committed against them to local law enforcement and not remain silent as victims,” the statement continued.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced Friday that the city will begin demolition of an apartment building occupied by the international armed gang TdA.
Former Colorado apartment resident says Governor Polis 'wouldn't last five minutes' against armed gang
One resident said the apartment was occupied by suspected gang members and that the locks had been changed. (Councillor Daniel Jurinski)
“The Aurora City Attorney's Office is preparing court documents to seek an emergency court order to declare an apartment complex where Venezuelan gang activity is occurring a 'criminal nuisance' and to evict the individuals involved,” Coffman said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Therefore, it is necessary for a municipal court judge to issue an order aimed at returning these buildings to the control of their owners. In the meantime, the law enforcement task force established to interdict and apprehend Venezuelan gang members who are in these buildings will continue its work. I strongly believe that the best course of action is to close these buildings.”[s] Let's be careful not to let this happen again.”
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Officials said crime victims can report crimes anonymously by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
The Aurora Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Jasmine Baer and Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.
