WATCH: Armed Venezuelan Gang Takes Over Apartment Complex, Patrols Streets In Colorado Town

Recent footage from a doorbell camera in an Aurora, Colorado, apartment complex populated by migrants sparked outrage online on Wednesday after several suspected gang members could be seen entering an apartment with weapons drawn. The footage shows Spanish-speaking men walking up the stairs of  The Edge at the Lowry apartment complex shortly before a shootout left one person seriously injured.

The footage, which quickly went viral online, comes as Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky sounds the alarm about the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, taking over the complex. "We currently have entire complexes under gang control — complexes where staff have been beaten up, they've been threatened, their families have been threatened [and] complexes where there are no staff left on the property. These complexes are being run by this Tren de Aragua gang," Jurinsky told Fox News. "They start brokering apartments themselves when someone leaves out of fear or whatever. They go in and take pictures of the apartment themselves," she continued. "Then, I've been told, within hours, a Venezuelan family moves in. Parts of [Aurora] are under this gang control."

A resident who moved out of the apartment complex told Fox News that the gang members often patrol the area with their rifles and handguns. "This is organized. They patrol the property with guns visibly, like they're not trying to hide them," the resident said. "There's no repercussion. These are ghosts."

In a statement, the Denver Police Department said that the gang activity is an "isolated" incident and that the department has created a task force with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to combat the Tren de Aragua gang.

"APD has been increasingly collecting evidence to show the gang is connected to crimes in the area. However, as we have said previously and as the DEA similarly stated, it would be improper at this time for the city and APD to make any conclusory statements about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and operations," the department explained. "Based on our initial investigative work, we believe reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated."

"There are reasons to believe that members of this gang are tied to crimes in the area. However, DPD is not aware of any apartment buildings being 'taken over' by this gang in Denver," the police department added.

Tren De Aragua is the largest criminal organization in Venezuela, and it has over 5,000 members. Given the influx of migrants across the US-Mexico border and the instability of Venezuela after years of rule under Nicolas Maduro, it is no surprise that criminal gangs from the country have begun to get organized in the United States. Denver, a sanctuary city just next door to Aurora, has allowed tens of thousands of migrants to come to the area, which has led to city resources being stretched to their limit.

WATCH:

NEW VIDEO armed group at troubled #aurora #colorado apartment complex now home to many migrants. Councilmember @DaniJurinsky says gangs have taken over the complex @KDVR @AuroraPD pic.twitter.com/J1uie8Y2M6

— Vicente Arenas (@vicentearenastv) August 28, 2024

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