A tragic incident unfolded in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday night during a “No Kings” protest, leading to the death of an innocent bystander. The protest, which was part of a nationwide demonstration against President Trump’s military parade and his policies, turned chaotic when gunfire erupted, causing widespread panic among the thousands of demonstrators in attendance.
The Incident
Around 8 p.m., police officers, who were monitoring the protest in downtown Salt Lake City, heard a volley of gunshots. The crowd, which numbered around 10,000, quickly scattered in fear, taking refuge in nearby parking garages and local businesses.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they found 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, who had been shot. Despite the efforts of first responders to save him, Ah Loo tragically died from his injuries.
Arrests and Suspect Identification
As chaos ensued, witnesses pointed out a man wearing black clothing and a mask, who was crouching among the crowd and appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound. Nearby, police found an AR-15-style rifle that he had allegedly been holding. The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa.
Two other men, who were part of the event’s peacekeeping team, were also detained by police. These peacekeepers told investigators that they saw Gamboa move away from the protest crowd, which they found suspicious. They then observed him pulling a rifle from his backpack.
The peacekeepers reportedly ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon, but instead, witnesses say he ran toward the crowd, holding the rifle in a firing position.
The Shooting and Aftermath
At that moment, one of the peacekeepers allegedly fired three shots. One of the shots hit Gamboa, while another struck Ah Loo, who was an innocent bystander. Police say Gamboa did not fire his weapon during the incident.
Detectives have yet to determine why Gamboa pulled out the rifle or why he ran toward the crowd when confronted by the peacekeepers. The investigation is still ongoing, with law enforcement working to piece together the details of the event.
Charges and Investigation
Arturo Gamboa now faces a murder charge, as authorities allege he showed “depraved indifference to human life” by engaging in actions that created a serious risk of death, ultimately leading to the death of Ah Loo. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd emphasized the seriousness of the investigation, stating, “We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community.”
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and officials are working to ensure that the tragic event does not escalate further fears in the community.
Leave a Reply