In a tragic turn of events, a man participating in a peacekeeping role during the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City was shot and killed on Saturday night. Authorities report that he was struck by gunfire while responding to a man wielding a rifle among the crowd. The incident left the alleged gunman, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, in custody on a murder charge, as confirmed by Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd during a Sunday press briefing.
The victim, identified as 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was a beloved fashion designer from Samoa, known for his efforts to celebrate Pacific Island culture. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries after being shot and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Details surrounding the altercation remain unclear, but investigators believe Gamboa created a perilous situation by brandishing his rifle. The police have not been able to ascertain why Gamboa escalated the situation or why he fled from the peacekeepers, who wore neon green vests.
In a chaotic moment, a peacekeeper allegedly fired three shots from a handgun at Gamboa, resulting in a minor injury to him but fatally striking Ah Loo. Chief Redd withheld the peacekeeper’s identity for the time being, but praised the group’s effort to mitigate a potentially larger disaster. “Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary,” said Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for the 50501 Movement, which co-organized the protest. She noted that the organizers had advised attendees not to bring weapons.
Ah Loo, affectionately known as Afa, was a husband and father of two, and he founded an event called Creative Pacific, aimed at showcasing the diversity of Pacific Island cultures. He also appeared on Season 17 of the fashion design reality series “Project Runway.” A GoFundMe page has been established to support his family following this tragic loss.
The gunfire led to a rapid evacuation of the protest site, with hundreds fleeing into nearby businesses or taking cover behind barriers. One video circulating on social media captured the moment, with someone exclaiming, “That’s a gun. Come on, come on, get out.”
Nationwide, the “No Kings” protests occurred across various cities with demonstrators rallying against what they characterize as authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. Aside from the incident in Salt Lake City, confrontations remained largely contained, although an SUV driver in Riverside, California, injured a demonstrator, prompting an ongoing search for the suspect. In Arizona, protesters faced a masked individual who brandished a handgun, leading to a dispersal of the crowd and subsequent arrest.
In Salt Lake City, police recovered an AR-15 style rifle, a gas mask, and a backpack from the scene, while Gamboa, who has no known criminal record, received medical treatment for his injuries before being booked into jail. The actions of the peacekeepers are also being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.