The Republican mayor of Aurora, Colorado, Mike Coffman, spoke out against former President Donald Trump’s claims that the city was overrun by Venezuelan gangs. Trump had made misleading statements during a presidential debate pointing to Aurora as evidence of immigrant gang activity. Coffman clarified that gang activity in the city had been exaggerated and that incidents were limited to a few apartment complexes in a city of over 400,000 residents. Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain also refuted claims of the city being overtaken by Venezuelan gangs.
The controversy stemmed from a viral video showing armed men entering an apartment in Aurora, leading to a fatal shooting. A local councilwoman shared the video on Facebook, claiming that a gang had taken over entire apartment complexes in the city. Mayor Coffman shared a screenshot from the video and announced plans to clear the apartment buildings of alleged gang activity. However, after police investigations, it was found that gang members had not taken over the building, and residents were not paying rent to gangs. Instead, residents complained of garbage buildup and rodent infestations in the building.
Following the misconceptions and exaggerated claims, both the mayor and the councilwoman released a statement clarifying that gang members had not taken over the city. The police department stated that they had no evidence to suggest that the men in the viral video were part of a gang. While acknowledging that Aurora, like any city, has crime and gang activity, the police department established a special task force to address gang activity with the help of local, state, and federal officials. The department had arrested eight individuals linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as of September 11.
Chief Chamberlain emphasized that the focus was on criminal behavior and not immigration status when addressing gang activity in the city. He mentioned that identifying suspects as gang members had presented challenges due to the complexity of the situation. The police department’s efforts were concentrated on addressing criminal behavior and preventing gang activity in Aurora. The mayor and law enforcement officials aimed to provide accurate information to the public and dispel misinformation regarding gang activity in the city. Overall, the city of Aurora, Colorado, was working to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents amidst the controversy surrounding gang activity.
