Authorities have identified three individuals captured in a viral video forcibly entering an Aurora apartment, with one suspect already in police custody, officials revealed on Friday.
The six men, armed with handguns and a rifle, featured in the security footage are wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in the vicinity of Dallas Street and 12th Avenue on August 18 at around 11:30 p.m., Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain announced during a press conference on Friday.
Despite speculations, there is currently no evidence linking any of the suspects to specific gangs, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which operates in the metro area, stated Aurora police Lieutenant DJ Tisdale at the press conference.
Chief Chamberlain emphasized accountability regardless of gang affiliation or immigration status, stating, “They victimized somebody, they mistreated somebody. I want to hold them accountable.”
The armed group forcefully entered two apartments on Dallas Street around 11:20 p.m. on August 18, threatening residents with firearms while searching for an individual who was not found, according to Chamberlain.
The suspects were later involved in a shooting nearby, resulting in the death of 25-year-old Oswaldo Jose Dabion Araujo, as confirmed by Chamberlain.
Following the incident, investigators executed a search warrant for a neighboring apartment and discovered a rifle hidden in an oven, believed to be the weapon visible in the surveillance footage, Tisdale revealed.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco (25), Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta (20), and Naudi Lopez-Fernandez (21) for first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm. Lopez-Fernandez is currently in custody, with efforts underway to locate the other two suspects with the assistance of state and federal agencies.
The city of Aurora has observed a slight uptick in criminal activities since September 2023, particularly aggravated assaults, as indicated by Chamberlain.
Chamberlain stressed that while crime and gang activities are prevalent in major cities, gangs do not control Aurora. The police are actively combatting gang-related issues to maintain public safety.
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