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Officials in Aurora, Colorado, are now addressing the growing concerns over Venezuelan gangs activity after a chilling surveillance video was released, highlighting the dangerous reality many residents face.
For Cindy Romero, living at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Dallas Street has become a daily battle against increasing violence and neglect. Her once peaceful neighborhood has transformed into a nightmarish environment, with crime rates escalating dramatically over the last three months. “We were constantly forced to take measures to protect ourselves,” Romero said. She added more locks, installed additional cameras, and even started parking further away from her building, but the situation only worsened. “It felt like we were being tortured,” she added, describing the frequent shootouts and sightings of automatic weapons.
Despite multiple calls to 911, Romero said the police response was minimal. “The police would call me and say they weren’t coming unless it was a severe crime,” Romero shared. One officer even suggested that she consider moving, a luxury she couldn’t afford.
Romero’s surveillance footage captured disturbing scenes of armed men forcing their way into her neighbor’s home and approaching vehicles with guns drawn. Despite these alarming incidents, the city’s response was inadequate. “You are elected to protect your constituents. You fundraise off your promises, yet you left us to die,” Romero criticized city officials.
The situation reached a tipping point after a shootout on August 18. Desperate for help, Romero finally found an ally in Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky. “Jurinsky was the only one who genuinely cared about our safety and worked to find solutions,” Romero said. Jurinsky personally assisted in helping residents move out, despite the danger. “Even as I was helping people move out, others were moving in right in front of me,” Jurinsky recalled.
Jurinsky became aware of the escalating gang activity shortly after a large gathering in Aurora related to the Venezuelan election. Residents reported individuals patrolling their properties with guns and walking through buildings, but police responses were minimal. According to Jurinsky, police leadership had instructed officers that a minimum of three to four officers were needed to respond to such situations. If those numbers weren’t available, officers were told not to respond.
The council member expressed frustration, saying that politics is being played with people’s lives. “There’s human suffering behind some of these doors, but with a big election coming up, nobody wants to acknowledge the problem,” she said.
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On Wednesday, Aurora police acknowledged the presence of TdA, a Venezuelan gang, operating in the city. In a statement, APD noted that it would be improper to make any conclusory statements about specific incidents at this time but emphasized that reports of TdA influence in Aurora are believed to be isolated.
Jurinsky hopes that Romero’s video footage will prompt action. “The footage is too real to deny. There has to be something done now,” she said. Romero, who has since moved to a new home, says the peace she feels is fleeting. “My family lives in Aurora. My daughters live there. If someone doesn’t do something now, their apartments are next,” she warned.
In response, Aurora police have established a special task force to address concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in the area. The APD urges all community members, including migrants, to report crimes and not remain silent victims. Crime victims can report crimes anonymously by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). As investigations continue, more information may become available at local, state, and federal levels.