Quick Hit:

Aurora police arrested 10 members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, for alleged violence against the migrant community. City officials stress the gang has not "taken over" Aurora.

Key Details:

• 10 Tren de Aragua members were arrested in connection with criminal activity, including child abuse and attempted murder.
• Aurora officials dispelled social media claims that the gang has taken control of the city.
• A joint task force has been formed to address gang activity, with cooperation from local, state, and federal agencies.

Diving Deeper:

The Aurora Police Department (APD) arrested 10 suspected members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) following increasing concerns over the gang's criminal activity within the city. Aurora officials, including Mayor Mike Coffman and Public Safety Chair Danielle Jurinsky, released a statement clarifying that the gang had not taken over the city, countering reports fueled by viral social media posts.

The arrests, announced on Wednesday, are part of a broader law enforcement effort to address violence in several Aurora apartment complexes. The gang, originally based in Venezuela, has been linked to acts of violence targeting the migrant community. APD revealed that charges against the suspects include attempted first-degree murder, child abuse, and illegal discharge of firearms, among others.

Of the 10 individuals arrested, two were involved in a July shooting at one of the troubled apartment complexes. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation that dates back to November 2023, when an assault occurred at the Whispering Pines apartments.

Despite the arrests, local officials emphasized that the gang's activities are confined to a limited number of properties and do not reflect the safety of the broader Aurora community. In the joint statement, officials addressed misleading claims circulated on social media platforms like X, noting that, "TdA has not 'taken over' the city."