The Republican mayor of Aurora, Colorado, Mike Coffman, recently made a statement regarding former President Donald Trump’s rally in the city, emphasizing the opportunity to show both Trump and the nation that Aurora is not a city overrun by Venezuelan gangs. This statement comes after weeks of misleading claims by Trump that Aurora was a “war zone” controlled by members of a Venezuelan gang.
During a presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump specifically pointed to Aurora as evidence that immigrants were violently taking over the town. He claimed, “You look at Aurora in Colorado. They are taking over the towns. They’re taking over buildings.”
Coffman pushed back against these claims, stating that concerns about gang activity in Aurora have been grossly exaggerated. He clarified that the incidents were limited to several apartment complexes in a city with a population of over 400,000 residents. Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain also affirmed that the city was not overtaken by Venezuelan gangs during a press conference on September 20.
One of the main pieces of evidence cited in the gang takeover claims was a viral video showing armed men entering an apartment in Aurora on August 18, which resulted in the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man, according to police reports. A local councilwoman shared the video on Facebook, alleging that a gang had taken over entire apartment complexes in the city. Coffman echoed these concerns and announced plans to request an emergency court order to clear the apartment buildings where gang activity was supposedly occurring.
However, after thorough investigations by the police department, it was determined that gang members had not taken over the building, and residents were not paying rent to gangs. Coffman personally visited the building and spoke with tenants who expressed concerns about garbage buildup and a rodent infestation, rather than safety issues. The initial reports of a gang takeover were traced back to the property management company, CBZ Management, but efforts to reach them for clarification have been unsuccessful.
In an effort to set the record straight, the mayor and councilwoman released a joint statement on September 11, asserting that gang members had not taken over the city, as previously claimed. Police confirmed that as of September 20, they had no information suggesting that the men in the viral video were part of a gang.
Chamberlain acknowledged that while Aurora, like any other city, does have its share of crime and gang activity, steps were being taken to address these issues. The police department had established a special task force in collaboration with local, state, and federal officials to combat gang activity. They had identified 10 individuals linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, with eight of them already arrested as of September 11. However, Chamberlain admitted that identifying suspects as gang members was complex and presented challenges.
He emphasized that the focus of their efforts was on criminal behavior rather than immigration status, stressing the importance of distinguishing between the two. Despite the complexities involved in tackling gang activity, Chamberlain remained committed to addressing the issue and ensuring the safety and security of Aurora residents.
Layla Ferris, a verification producer with CBS News Confirmed, provided this comprehensive update on the situation in Aurora, shedding light on the efforts to dispel misinformation and combat gang activity in the city. Her background in breaking news coverage, visual verification, and open-source research added depth and credibility to the report, offering a detailed account of the developments surrounding the claims of a gang takeover in Aurora, Colorado.
