Rumors swirling that members of a Venezuelan gang had taken control of an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado generated headlines by conservative media outlets and social media commenters late summer 2024.
Rumors surfaced when, on August 28, 2024, a local TV broadcast reporter from Denver posted to social media a video purportedly depicting four men carrying weapons who appeared to have entered an apartment complex nearby called Aurora.
FOX31 KDVR — an affiliate of Fox network — published an article featuring this video depicting “alleged gang violence at an apartment complex housing migrants in Aurora”.
According to that article, footage taken by one of the complex residents just prior to an armed altercation erupting was captured on security camera owned by him or her shortly before shooting began on their property.
Over the next week, however, speculation began surfacing online regarding what the video showed — or, what had taken place at the complex. For example, The New York Post speculated that Tren de Aragua criminal gang from Venezuela had “taken control” of it, for instance.
As is usually the case, its contents remain unclear and whether or not related to gang activity.
Aurora Police do believe members of Tren de Aragua gang operate within their jurisdiction (details below); however, to date they have only conducted formal investigations related to Tren de Aragua at another apartment complex. We contacted Aurora PD asking whether there had been any reports regarding activity depicted in video; and, if so, whether those investigations involved Tren de Aragua. If any reply comes back we will update this story accordingly.
According to CNN, Tren de Aragua first adopted its name officially during the early-mid 2010s and since has become well known for violence and drug trafficking across South America as well as human smuggling rings. Since 2023, some U.S. politicians have voiced concerns regarding this gang’s influence in America, with President Joe Biden’s administration officially labelling Tren de Aragua (TdA) members operating within its jurisdiction; President Joe Biden officially designated TdA a transnational criminal organization on July 3, 2024; President Joe Biden declared TdA an illegal international criminal organization on July 3, 2024; President Joe Biden officially designated TdA an “transnational criminal organization.” On August 28, the Aurora Police Department posted their belief in this regard and on August 28, they believed there may indeed been TdA members operating within its jurisdiction X post that read:
Aurora police’s statement regarding apartment complex allegations did not specifically refer to those surrounding Tren de Aragua (TdA) activity or other criminality affecting migrant communities despite being posted the same day as the video. Instead, it emphasized their joint task force which collaborated with other local, state and federal partners “to address concerns related to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) as well as any criminal activities targeting migrants communities.”
Arrest of Two People With Gang Ties Occurred at Different Apartment
The Edge at Lowry complex that was taken over by Tren de Aragua can be found near 12th Avenue and Dallas Street in Aurora; Google Maps indicates there were six individual buildings at this address.
Denver Post reports that Aurora police have investigated only one incident linked to Tren de Aragua over recent months, per their Sept 4, 2024 post on X. In that incident four individuals were charged with attempted murder after an July 28 incident at Fitzsimons Place Apartments off Nome Street located nearby; two arrestees had confirmed ties with Tren de Aragua including Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino who is named among them.
That statement aligns with reports by conservative outlets like The New York Post linking Pacheco-Chirino with an assault at Fitzsimons Place apartment complex; however, her arrest had nothing to do with an attempted takeover at The Edge at Lowry.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman issued an August 30 statement via social media that the city attorney’s office would seek a court order to “clear out” Edge at Lowry buildings due to Venezuelan gang activity; their goal being bringing these properties under ownership by their rightful property owners once more.
Snopes could not find further details of Coffman’s purported court order other than what was found on Facebook; tenants from Edge at Lowry held a news conference indicating something other than gang activity was impacting them and suggested it might have something to do with security at their apartment complex.
According to local ABC and NBC affiliates and The Denver Post, residents at an apartment complex, mostly composed of migrants, have denied reports about gang takeover. Instead they reported feeling unsafe due to what they alleged as negligent building upkeep from management company.
Denver’s ABC affiliate reported on what they described as unlivable conditions at the building a week prior to reports of its purported takeover by criminal gang members.
Aurora officials obtained a court order condemning Fitzsimons Place due to its condition; thus requiring its ownership company Aurora Property Management Services LLC to move swiftly with any repairs in early August 2024 or face legal ramifications from Aurora officials.
Property management company explained to The Denver Post in a statement that due to activity related to Tren de Aragua they could no longer properly maintain buildings under its purview.
Aurora disagreed.
According to city of Aurora spokesperson Ryan Luby in early August 2024, significant, longstanding code violations and other poor conditions at Fitzsimons Place Apartments for years. “[Potential gang] activity at Fitzsimons Place Apartments is irrelevant and separate from our code enforcement actions at the property as well as inhabitability.”
These interactions between the city and management company led some X users to speculate that management company may have created the gang takeover rumors in order to avoid performing building maintenance, although no concrete evidence supported such speculation.
Response to Rumors A variety of local politicians – Coffman as mayor and City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky among them – disseminated unsubstantiated reports alleging that members of a Venezuelan gang had taken control of an apartment complex nearby.
Coffman gave an interview to Fox News on August 29 in which he claimed the video depicted an “organized criminal effort”. Specifically, Coffman explained how several buildings under “out-of-state ownership” had fallen under control of “Venezuelan gangs”, though he could not confirm if any members affiliated with Tren de Aragua.
Coffman and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston appeared together later that same day to try and allay fears by appearing on an NBC affiliate and trying to assuage anxieties. Coffman pointed out how inaccurate and exaggerated coverage had hindered city investigations.
Coffman stated, ‘The issue has overwhelmed our emergency call center, impeding their ability to respond effectively to crime.” ‘I would hope people wouldn’t overreact; right now there seems to be some type of collective anxiety over this matter; nevertheless it remains real, isolated, and dealt with.”
Coffman stated in the NBC interview that Aurora police have access to surveillance video but had yet to determine whether any individuals shown are associated with Tren de Aragua.
As local officials and tenants expressed publically about alleged apartment takeover, one consistent sentiment emerged online: that those denying that any takeover occurred were trying to obscure or cover-up truth for whatever reasons.
Any tenant attempting to speak out against an alleged takeover was likely dismissed on grounds that they either belonged to the group themselves, or felt intimidated enough that speaking out could put their life in jeopardy.
Local officials were accused of mishandling this matter with more of a public-relations agenda in mind, according to critics. Coffman told NBC that some critics had confused his activity with any large gathering of Venezuelan migrants — thus mischaracterising gang activity with any large gathering. Our report will be updated if additional details become known. Sources
Arenas, Vicente. “Video Shows Group of Men Carrying Guns at Troubled Aurora Apartment Complex.” KDVR | Fox 31 on 29 August 2024: https://kdvr.com/news/local/video-Shows-Group-of-Men-Carrying-Guns-at-Troubled-Aurora-Apartment-Complex Aurora’s Plan to Condemn Apartment Building over Conditions Leave Venezuelan Migrants Facing Uncertainty,” published August 6, 2024 at https://denverpost.com/2024/08/06/aurora-fitzsimons-place-condemn-plans-venezuelan-migrants/, by Jasmine Baehr is now online and accessible at this link:https://www.denverpost.com/2024/08/06/aurora-fitzsimons-place-condemnplans_condemn_venezuelan_migrants_2024.Baehr, Jasmine 2024a).Baehr Colorado Mayor Responds after Video Showing Armed Venezuelan Gang in Apartment Goes Viral: ‘Failed Policy.’ Fox News. August 29 2024, available here: https://www.foxnews.com/us/colorado-mayor-speaks-out-after-video-armed-venezuelan-gang-apartment-goes-viral — “Tren de Aragua Gang Members Arrested in Aurora, Colorado in Connection With Apartment Building Takeover: Police.” Fox News 3 Sept 2024 https://www.foxnews.com/us/tren-de-aragua-gang-members-arrested-aurora-colorado-connection-apartment-building-takeover-police Jared Polis Casts doubt on Tren de Aragua Takeover of Aurora Apartment Buildings by Subduing Debates about It on Sept 2, 2024 at NYPost com (https://nypost.com/2024/09/02/opinion/gov-jared-polis-sprays-gaslighting/). “City of Aurora Plans to Quickly Close Apartment Complex Due to Substantial Code Violations.” Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH), 7 Aug 2024. https://denver7.com/news/front-range/aurora/city-of-aurora-plans-quickly-close-apartment-complex-citing-substantial-code-violations “Denver and Aurora Mayors Charge Exaggerated Migrant Gang Coverage Is Fueling Hysteria.” KUSA.Com, 29 August 2024. https://www.9news.com/article/local-politics/mayor-denver-aurora-exaggerated-migrant-gang-hysteria/73-6eb2e9a43-c312-49c5-b548-cfc4e37046d1 “Frenzy over Venezuelan Gang in Aurora Reaches Crescendo, Driven by Conflicting Information and Politics.” The Denver Post (September 4, 2024). https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/04/venezuelan-gang-colorado-aurora-apartments/House, The White. Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on U.S. Senate Resolution on Venezuela.” (Sept 5, 2024). “U.S. Actions Against Transnational Criminal Organization Tren de Aragua.” The White House. 11 July 2024. Accessed at http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/11/statement-from-nsc-spokesperson-adrienne-watson-on-u-s-actions-against-transnational-criminal-organization-tren-de-aragua/ “‘False Information’: Aurora Complex Tenants Respond to Report of Venezuelan Gang Takeover,” KUSA.Com, 3 September 2024.https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/tenants-aurora-complex-overtaken-venezelan-gangs/73-02446a32-ad90-4448-b3cc-e380ab352822Mason, Tori Venezuelan Gang Activity Confirmed by Aurora Officials after Release of Colorado Woman’s Surveillance Video – CBS Colorado (August 30 2024). Accessed at http://cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-venezuelan-gang-activity-aurora-crime-woman-moves-video-guns/ “More Allegations of Uninhabitable Conditions Against Aurora Management Company.” Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH), 21 August 2024, https://denver7.com/news/local-news/more-accusations-of-uninhabitable-conditions-against-aurora-management-company Propper, David Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman Suggests Venezuelan Gangs Have Taken Control of Apartment Building. 20 August 2024. Reporter Dan Gooding Live News. Newsweek reported on “Colorado Town Being Overrun By Venezuelan Gangs.” To read it for yourself visit this link on Newsweek: Aurora Colorado Is Being “Overrun By Venezuelan Gangs; Court Order Is Issued-1946966 Staff* *, NBC Chicago had also put out some informational pieces like, What is Tren de Aragua: Learn About Venezuelan Gang at Center of Recent Headlines> ” NBC Chicago reported on Tren de Aragua (also spelled Trn-de Aragua in Venezuelan) Gang at Center of Recent Headlines /3538206/Taer, Jennie and Chris Nesi’s article entitled Denver Tren de Aragua Gang Violence Spills over into Aurora Colorado 25 August 2024. See New York Post 2024/08/25/us-news/denver-tren-de-aragua-gang-violence-spills-over-into-aurora-colorado for further reading: “Tenants at Troubled Aurora Apartments Speak Out against Venezuelan Gang Rumors.” Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH), 4 Sept 2024. https://denver7.com/local-news/tenants-at-troubled-aurora-apartments-speak-out-against-venezuelan-gang-rumors “Tren de Aragua Components are Actively Operating in Aurora but “Reports of TdA Influence Are Rare, City States. ” Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH), 29 August 2024: https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/aurora/tren-de-aragua-components-operating-in-aurora-but-reports-of-tda-influence-isolated-city-says ; Weffer, Rafael Romo, Belisa Morillo and Laura Weffer wrote for CNN 9 June 2024 “This Is the Dangerous Venezuelan Gang Infiltrating the United States…,” which could also read as: https://cnn.com/2024/6/09/us/tren-de-aragua-venezuela-gang ; weffer Weffer’s “This Is The Dangerous Venezuelan Gang Infiltrating the United States that You May Not Know about but Should.” Weffer Weffer wrote; Morillo belonged to them (Weffer). Weffer acted upon this CNN piece omitted this detail section at least;
