‘Did not take over’ – DNyuz

Aurora police shared an update after video footage emerged that allegedly shows heavily armed Venezuelan migrant gang members attempting to enter an apartment in Colorado.

In a video of a press conference posted late Friday night to the department’s official X account, 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.

The group appears to be Tren de Aragua, or TdA, a transnational gang based in Venezuela. The gang, reportedly numbering 5,000, 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 gathering more evidence to show the gang has ties to crimes in the area,” Aurora police said in a statement about X.

“But as we have stated previously and as the DEA has also stated, it would be inappropriate at this time for the City and APD to make any conclusive statements about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and operations.”

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

According to a report from the New York Post, TdA has been linked to more than 100 crimes across the country.

Aurora police have confirmed to Fox News Digital that TdA leader “Cookie Monster” is in custody 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 their 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.

In a statement on Facebook, Coffman said: “The Aurora District 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.”

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.

The post Aurora Police Respond to Alleged Venezuelan Gang in Apartments: ‘They Didn’t Take Over’ first appeared on Fox News.