A 39-year-old Utah man was fatally shot during a “No Kings” demonstration in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday night, raising serious legal and public safety questions about the role of armed civilians at public protests.
Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, described by police as an “innocent bystander,” died at a hospital after being struck by gunfire in a chaotic confrontation involving a rifle-wielding protester and armed individuals identified as “peacekeepers.”
According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, the shooter who fatally struck Ah Loo was not the rifleman, but one of the “peacekeepers” attempting to intervene.
Police arrested 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa and charged him with murder, citing his role in initiating a series of events that resulted in Ah Loo’s death.
Armed Intervention Gone Wrong
Police said Gamboa was seen moving away from the protest crowd while “manipulating an AR-15-style rifle,” prompting two self-identified “peacekeepers” in neon green vests to draw their own handguns. Witnesses told investigators the men shouted commands for Gamboa to drop the weapon.
Instead, Gamboa reportedly fled back into the crowd, holding the weapon in what police described as “a firing position.” One of the armed “peacekeepers” opened fire, striking Gamboa and inadvertently shooting Ah Loo.
Police confirmed that Gamboa did not fire any rounds. However, under Utah law, prosecutors can pursue a murder charge if a person’s reckless actions set into motion a chain of events that results in another person’s death. Detectives said they developed probable cause that Gamboa “acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life” and ultimately “caused the death of an innocent community member.”
Legal Scrutiny of ‘Peacekeepers’
While Gamboa is facing a murder charge, the actions of the armed “peacekeepers” are also under investigation. Neither of the two men are sworn law enforcement officers, and it remains unclear whether they had proper training or authorization to engage in armed intervention during the protest.
Salt Lake City police have not yet announced whether the “peacekeeper” who fired the fatal shot will face criminal charges. The case has raised concerns about the growing presence of self-styled security teams at political demonstrations and whether their actions exacerbate risk rather than prevent violence.
Police also recovered Gamboa’s AR-15-style rifle, a gas mask, black clothing, and a backpack near where he was arrested.
Timeline of Events
Gunshots were first reported at 7:56 p.m. by a police motor squad detective monitoring the protest. Officers found Ah Loo wounded and attempted life-saving measures before transporting him to the hospital. Minutes later, Gamboa was located nearby, crouching among a group of people, wounded and with his rifle beside him.
The “No Kings” protest was part of a nationwide movement held in opposition to militarization and authoritarianism, timed to counter a military-themed event by former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. The protest also followed a wave of public outcry in cities like Los Angeles after recent immigration raids.
The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of Ah Loo’s death. Meanwhile, Gamboa remains in custody at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. As of Sunday, his legal representation was unknown.
