SALT LAKE CITY — Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old fashion designer and former contestant on Bravo’s “Project Runway,” was fatally shot on Saturday during a major protest in downtown Salt Lake City. Described as an “innocent bystander,” Ah Loo was struck by a bullet fired by a member of a “peacekeeping” group who was attempting to stop another armed individual threatening the crowd.
Witnesses reported that the unidentified peacekeeping team had been assigned to maintain safety during the protest, which drew around 10,000 participants opposing recent federal policy decisions. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd confirmed that the suspected gunman, Arturo Roberto Gamboa, 24, was indeed armed with an AR-15 style rifle and had been seen running towards the crowd.
In the aftermath, police took three individuals into custody, including Gamboa, who was also injured during the encounter and later hospitalized in serious condition before being booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.
The confrontation began shortly before 8 p.m. near 151 S. State Street, leading to at least three shots being fired. Videos obtained from the scene depicted chaos as attendees fled from the area. Officers arrived to find Ah Loo injured and commenced life-saving measures, but his injuries were severe. Preliminary investigations indicated that he was not the intended target of gunfire but rather an innocent participant in the demonstration, Redd explained.
Following witness accounts, police pursued Gamboa to an area nearby, where he was apprehended with a minor gunshot wound. Authorities retrieved a backpack from the scene that contained the AR-15 style rifle, clothing, and a gas mask.
The initial response also included detaining two other armed individuals, believed to be peacekeepers, who witnessed Gamboa’s actions. They noted his suspicious movement away from the crowds and attempted to confront him, ultimately leading to the tragic shooting of Ah Loo.
“Arturo Gamboa was acting under circumstances evidencing a depraved indifference to human life,” the police affidavit stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Chief Redd confirmed that the peacekeepers involved were cooperating with the investigation but did not provide further details regarding their operations or training. “We did not take any actions last night on those two individuals,” he noted.
Emotions ran high among protesters, with Leah Pittman recounting the moments leading up to the shooting. She attended the march with her father, and initially described it as a peaceful gathering filled with music and unity. However, her experience turned traumatic when she and her father heard the shots. “At first, we thought they were fireworks,” she said, recalling the moment chaos erupted. “Then we just saw people running. So we started running, and I ran past the victim lying on the ground… I realized what was happening and how much danger we were all in.”
Pittman expressed her concern about the regularity of such violent incidents in America, saying, “No matter your political opinion, something like this happening is not OK… We just need to actively be fighting against that kind of hate and that kind of violence that leads to situations like this.”
Following the shooting, Governor Spencer Cox released a statement deeming the incident a “deeply troubling act of violence” without a place in public demonstrations, and he extended his support to first responders. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall emphasized that the shooting should not overshadow the peaceful purpose of the protest.
Ah Loo, known for his inclusive fashion designs, had recently shared his life story, highlighting his journey from Samoa to Utah, where he established his fashion business. He met his wife, Laura, during a visit to the state, and described himself as a designer for all bodies, celebrating diversity in fashion. As the community mourns his loss, tributes continue pouring in, acknowledging his contributions and the tragic violence that cut short his life.