Aurora Police Respond to Venezuelan Gang Members Taking Over Apartment: ‘They Didn’t Take Over’

Aurora police shared an update after video surfaced allegedly showing heavily armed Venezuelan migrant gang members attempting to break into a apartment in Colorado.

In a video of a press conference posted to the police department’s official X account late Friday night, Aurora Police Interim Chief Heather Morris said “gang members have not taken over the apartment complex.”

“I’m not saying there aren’t gang members that don’t live in this community,” she said. “But what we’re learning here is that gang members have not taken over this complex.”

Disturbing doorbell camera footage captured several men armed with handguns and one with a scoped rifle breaking down the door of an apartment building at The Edge at Lowry for unknown reasons.

MIGRANT GANG TAKES OVER COLORADO APARTMENT COMPLEX ‘NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT,’ FORMER RESIDENT SAYS

Aurora Police Interim Chief Heather Morris provided an update on the situation at The Edge at Lowry apartments Friday night, saying “gang members have not taken over the complex.” (Council Member Danielle Jurinsky/Aurora Police)

The group appears to be Tren de Aragua, or TdA, a transnational gang based in Venezuela. The gang, reportedly with 5,000 members, has a motto of “real to the death,” or “real hasta la muerte.”

“We are aware that elements of TdA are active in Aurora. APD is continuing to gather evidence that the gang has ties to crimes in the area,” Aurora police said in a statement on X.

“But as we have said previously and as the DEA has also stated, it would be inappropriate at this time for the city and APD to draw conclusions about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and activities.”

AFTER VIDEO OF ARMED VENEZUELAN GANG SHARED BY LOCAL OFFICIAL GOES VIRAL, CITY OF COLORADO TAKES ACTION

Suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang have taken over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, and are asking for rent in exchange for “protection,” a resident said. (Edward Romero/Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky)

The department added that based on its initial investigation, it believes the reports of TdA impact in Aurora are isolated.

TdA is linked to more than 100 crimes across the country, according to a report from the New York Post.

Aurora police confirmed to Fox News Digital that TdA leader “Cookie Monster” has been arrested as part of an investigation into the July 28 shooting.

“We urge all community members, including members of our immigrant communities, to report crimes committed against them to local law enforcement agencies and not continue to act as silent victims,” the statement said.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced Friday that the city is beginning to evacuate apartment buildings where the transnational armed gang TdA has taken control.

FORMER COLORADO APARTMENT BUILDER SAYS GOVERNOR POLIS ‘WOULDN’T HOLD FIVE MINUTES’ AGAINST ARMED GANGS

According to a resident, the apartment building was attacked by suspected gang members, and the locks were changed, among other things. (Councillor Danielle Jurinsky)

In a statement on Facebook, Coffman said that “the Aurora City Attorney’s Office is preparing court documents to seek an emergency order to vacate apartment buildings where Venezuelan gangs operate, declaring the properties a ‘criminal nuisance.’

“This will require a municipal judge to issue an injunction to get these properties back under the control of the owners. In the meantime, the law enforcement task force that was created to disrupt and arrest Venezuelan gang members in these buildings will continue its work. I strongly believe the best course of action is to close these buildings and ensure that this never happens again.”

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Officials said crime victims can file a report anonymously by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

Aurora police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr and Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.