Aurora Police Address Misinformation About Large Gathering During Venezuela’s Election
On Sunday, a significant crowd gathered at the Garden on Havana shopping center in Aurora as election results from Venezuela were announced. The crowd, numbering between 3,000 to 4,000 people, had anticipated President Nicolás Maduro being ousted from power, which did not happen.
Misinformation and Clarification
Videos circulating on social media depicted a chaotic scene at the Garden on Havana, previously known as Buckingham Square. The Aurora Police Department (APD) reported the large turnout but aimed to clarify misinformation spreading online.
Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky shared posts on social media claiming there were assaults, thefts, gunshots, and even a police car being shot. “That is the way it was conveyed to me, but I have not seen the police car,” Jurinsky told 9NEWS. She described receiving videos with people yelling about someone being robbed, nearly hit by a car, and gunshots being heard.
In response, the Aurora Police Department posted on X to correct the misinformation. The APD confirmed that while shots were fired into the air, no one was injured. They stated, “APD learned about the gathering before 5 p.m. when there was a report of suspicious activity at the shopping center. APD subsequently investigated a report of an assault on a store employee during a shoplifting incident.”
No Evidence of Rioting or Damage
Contrary to claims of rioting and damage to businesses and vehicles, the APD reported no such incidents. No arrests, tickets, citations, or summons were issued during the gathering. The APD also mentioned that an Aurora police car “was hit by an unknown object while driving in the area, and it is unclear at this time if it was related to the gathering.”
Reactions and Apologies
Before the APD released its statement, 9NEWS questioned Jurinsky on whether she felt used by officers to amplify unverified information. Jurinsky responded, “Usually when one officer reaches out about something, I do take that into consideration. But when it’s multiple officers that start reaching out about the same thing, I do look into it.”
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman also took to social media, stating that residents deserved an apology from the Venezuelan immigrant community for the disturbances.
In summary, while the large gathering in Aurora during Venezuela’s election results announcement led to significant social media activity, the APD emphasized that much of the reported chaos was misinformation. No significant incidents were confirmed, and the police continue to investigate the event to ensure accurate reporting.
