Footage shows a heavily-armed group moving through an apartment complex, with at least one individual carrying a semi-automatic rifle while others hold handguns. In one video, a man in a hoodie is seen pounding on an apartment door while wielding a rifle.
“A GANG HAS TAKEN OVER several apartment complexes in Aurora!” local council member Danielle Jurinsky wrote on X.
However, Gov. Polis has denied these claims, describing the situation as exaggerated. “The governor has already let the mayor know that the state is ready to support the local police department with assistance from state troopers and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation,” said Shelby Wieman, a spokeswoman for Polis, in a statement to the New York Post. She added that “this purported invasion is largely a feature of Danielle Jurinsky’s imagination.”
Wieman emphasized that it is illegal to take over buildings in Colorado, and if Jurinsky has evidence of such activities, the governor’s office is prepared to assist law enforcement in addressing the issue.
When asked if the governor wanted to retract his statements in light of the video evidence, Wieman reiterated that Gov. Polis hopes city council members will focus on maintaining safety rather than criticizing their own city. “Over the last month, Gov. Polis has been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and has offered all state assistance to support their efforts if requested,” Wieman said
Residents and city officials, however, argue they have faced difficulties since the arrival of the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang, which they believe is linked to the recent apartment takeovers. In July, this gang was also implicated in a shooting incident at a Target parking lot.
In a video shared on TikTok by user 100packsavvy, a voice can be heard saying, “Those Venezuelans is taking over.” The footage from July 29 shows chaotic scenes in the Target parking lot in Aurora, where Venezuelan migrants gathered during a demonstration over the elections in Venezuela. While the gathering was mostly peaceful, the area became overcrowded, with vehicles packed closely together.
This situation prompted Target and nearby stores to close early, as they feared potential risks to their customers, according to Telemundo Denver. As the evening progressed, the parking lot, littered with trash, became a scene of concern, transitioning from unsanitary to hazardous conditions.