AURORA, Colo. — An apartment complex in Colorado is set to close in approximately a month due to an emergency court order, as announced by city officials on Monday. Last summer, video footage had emerged showing armed members of a Venezuelan gang entering one of the units, prompting the city of Aurora to initiate a lawsuit designating all but one of the buildings at the complex as a criminal nuisance.
City authorities argued that the condition of the property had deteriorated significantly, reaching a “breaking point” after two residents were violently kidnapped and assaulted last month. The city’s request to expedite the closure was approved by a judge last Friday, just before a scheduled court hearing on Monday.
Attorneys representing the property management firm, CBZ Management, counter the city’s claims and have called for a trial to address the ongoing lawsuit. Despite these legal proceedings, the city will continue with its actions to close the affected buildings, as stated by Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte during a post-hearing press conference. Stan Garnett, the attorney for the property owner, indicated that he was not in a position to comment on the court order.
CBZ Management had previously contended that they could not maintain the property due to the presence of the Tren de Aragua gang, which allegedly took control of the complex. Conversely, city officials have argued that the owner’s neglect allowed criminal activity to take root and flourish in the area. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain expressed support for the property’s closure, remarking in court documents that it had become a focal point for crime due to a “criminal element that has exerted control and fear” over the residents.
Following the court session, Chamberlain highlighted the involvement of Tren de Aragua members in the criminal incidents, noting that federal authorities identified seven suspects in the recent kidnapping and assault as gang members. Nevertheless, he asserted that the primary issue at the complex was the absence of effective management and oversight from the property owners, rather than a complete takeover by gang members.
The city has also pledged to coordinate with the surrounding county and other entities to assist residents from the 52 affected apartments in relocating. The incident, particularly the video featuring armed individuals, caught national attention, including that of President-elect Donald Trump, who introduced a plan named “Operation Aurora” aimed at combating migrant gangs during a rally in the city last September.
Reports indicate that four out of the six men depicted in the August video have been arrested, further underscoring the serious nature of the situation. Initial speculation about the gang’s involvement was confirmed later, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officially recognizing two individuals from the video as members of Tren de Aragua.
Court documents from Colorado reveal that a rifle seen in the footage was implicated in a fatal shooting just ten minutes after the altercation, with police discovering the disassembled weapon hidden in an oven within one of the apartments. Notably, the city did not pursue the closure of a sixth building within the complex, since it is under a different branch of CBZ Management, which is currently managed by a court-appointed official, following improvements requested by the mortgage lender.
