No, Hells Angels are not heading to Aurora, Colorado, to confront Venezuelan gangs

Context

Several videos have surfaced on social media claiming that the Hells Angels are heading to Aurora, Colorado, to confront Venezuelan gangs who have allegedly taken over parts of the city. 

These claims come amid concerns over increasing gang activity in the area, particularly related to the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA). The claims suggest that the Hells Angels are mobilizing en masse to restore order in areas said to be overrun by criminal gangs.

One such video posted on TikTok (archived here) garnered over 11,500 likes and almost 5,310 shares. Another video (archived here), posted on the same platform, gained even more attention with 1.9 million likes and more than 326,000 shares, further fueling speculation. Similarly, a video shared on X (archived here) amassed 124,900 views and 3,517 likes, contributing to the spread of this narrative.

In fact

Local law enforcement, including the Aurora Police Department, and U.S. federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have acknowledged the presence of TdA members in the area. These individuals have been linked to violent incidents, including a shooting in late July that prompted arrests. 

However, officials say that the widespread claims of this gang taking over entire apartment complexes or other significant parts of Aurora are exaggerated. The arrests were specific responses to isolated incidents rather than evidence of gang dominance in the city.

Furthermore, the videos circulating online are misleading and unrelated to current events in Aurora. Some of these clips are several years old, including one clip traced back to 2015. Another widely shared video was actually recorded during a charity motorcycle ride in Northampton, Pennsylvania, in November 2022. It was later re-shared with a false caption implying Hells Angels involvement in Aurora. Additionally, the video shared on X, which claimed to show Hells Angels heading to Colorado, was taken at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in early August 2024 and has no connection to any events in Aurora.

There is no evidence of any organized Hells Angels response to Venezuelan gang activity in Aurora, despite the rumors circulating on social media.

The verdict

The claim that the Hells Angels are heading to Aurora, Colorado, to confront Venezuelan gangs is false. While there have been isolated incidents involving the Tren de Aragua gang, local law enforcement say reports of the gang taking over the city are exaggerated. The viral videos are misleading, with many featuring old or unrelated footage, such as a charity ride in 2022 and the 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. There is no credible evidence of Hells Angels mobilizing in Aurora.