Aurora Police have arrested eight confirmed members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) for allegedly committing acts of violence against the local migrant community. Police have been investigating TDA’s presence in the area, particularly around apartment complexes like Whispering Pines Condominiums and Fitzsimons Place.
One suspect, Larry Medina, was arrested on July 10 for allegedly threatening a victim with a gun. Other arrests include Jhonardy Pacheco-Chirinos for first-degree assault and Yoendry Vilchez Medina-Jose for an assault at Whispering Pines. In total, eight of the 10 identified members have been apprehended.
Aurora Police Identifies Known Tren de Aragua Members
The Aurora Police Department has been actively investigating reports that members of a Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, have been living in Aurora and committing acts of violence against members of the migrant… pic.twitter.com/U42ldlOGr7
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) September 11, 2024
Despite arrests and gang activity reports, Democratic Governor Jared Polis dismissed claims of apartment takeovers as exaggerated. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and City Council member Danielle Jurinsky, however, confirmed TDA’s impact on specific properties while clarifying the gang has not “taken over” the city.
Polis emphasized Colorado’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal activity and assured continued cooperation between state and local officials.
