During the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City, a man thought to be part of the peacekeeping team discharged a firearm, hitting a person armed with a rifle and inadvertently a bystander, who succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, authorities reported on Sunday.
The Salt Lake City Police, headed by Chief Brian Redd, took Arturo Gamboa into custody on Saturday evening, charging him with murder. The bystander who lost his life was identified as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old fashion designer from Samoa.
Detectives are still trying to determine why Gamboa brandished a rifle or fled from the peacekeepers. They have accused him of inciting the perilous scenario that resulted in Ah Loo’s demise. Currently, no attorney has been identified for Gamboa, nor has any contact information for his family been found in public records.
The peacekeeper, distinguished by a neon green vest, fired three shots from a handgun at Gamboa, slightly injuring him but tragically killing Ah Loo. The police have not disclosed the identity of this individual.
Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for the 50501 Movement, which collaborated in organizing the “No Kings” protest, stated that volunteer peacekeeping teams are a common practice at protests. However, organizers typically advise against carrying weapons. Despite this incident, Parker commented that the peacekeepers averted what could have been a more significant mass casualty event.
“Our safety team managed as best as they could in an incredibly tragic and frightening situation,” Parker expressed.
Known by many as Afa, Ah Loo was a devoted husband and father of two. He was deeply rooted in his Samoan heritage and had established Creative Pacific, an initiative celebrating the rich diversity of the Pacific Islands with various workshops, artists, and a fashion show. He also competed on the 17th season of “Project Runway.” A GoFundMe page has been set up to support his family.
The sound of gunshots caused widespread panic among the protesters, with people scrambling for cover behind barriers and rushing into nearby buildings, police disclosed in a statement. Social media footage captured the chaos, with someone urging, “That’s a gun. Come on, come on, get out.”
On the same day, “No Kings” protests erupted across the nation, attracted by what organizers labeled as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian approaches, drawing large crowds. Isolated confrontations were reported; in Riverside, California, a driver struck a female protester before fleeing the scene, leaving her with severe but stable injuries as police sought the driver.
In Arizona, outside the state capitol, a masked man got into a clash with protesters, later brandishing a handgun and dispersing the crowd. Arizona Department of Public Safety officers eventually detained him after the incident, captured in social media videos.
The shooter in the green vest and another individual reportedly observed Gamboa detaching from the marching crowd in downtown Salt Lake City, moving covertly behind a wall before producing a rifle at about 8 p.m., according to Redd.
Witness accounts describe how, upon confronting Gamboa with their firearms, Gamboa allegedly aimed his rifle at the crowd, prompting the individual in the vest to shoot three times, striking both Gamboa and Ah Loo. Gamboa, who reportedly does not have any prior criminal activity, received medical treatment before being taken to jail.
Redd mentioned that the actions of the peacekeepers are also a focus of ongoing investigations.
At the scene, authorities recovered an AR-15-style rifle, a gas mask, and a backpack, according to police reports.