Aurora police have arrested 16 people they believe are tied to two gangs in the Denver metro area.

According to police, the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network began its investigation in June 2024 after they confirmed several suspects were responsible for multiple gang-motivated shootings in the area. Investigators said they identified some of those suspects as "some of the most prolific violent firearm offenders in the region at the time."

Over the last year, investigators with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and Aurora Police Department documented activity they say linked gang members to at least 16 violent criminal offenses and numerous weapons offenses. Then, on June 18 and July 8, authorities conducted two enforcement operations, resulting in the arrests of 16 suspects, nine of whom are juveniles or were minors at the time the crimes were committed.

Officials said the adult suspects include Raijon Bass, Quincy Johnson, Troydell Dixon, Denalii Marshall, Cai-reis Curby, Blanca DeLaTorre and Ramekia Amerson-Bey.

All 16 suspects have been charged in Denver District Court on a variety of charges, including:

• Violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act
• Attempted first-degree murder
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder
• First and second-degree assault
• Attempted first-degree assault
• Menacing
• Aggravated robbery
• Criminal mischief
• Possession of a dangerous weapon
• Possession of a handgun by a juvenile
• Possession of a high-capacity magazine
• Illegal discharge of a firearm
• Unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun
• Failing to store a firearm securely