Arturo Gamboa biography: Arturo Gamboa is a 24-year-old man who allegedly brought an AR-15-style rifle, hidden inside a backpack, during a peaceful protest called “No Kings” in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 14, 2025. Around 10,000 people gathered to speak out against authoritarianism.
He pulled the AR-15-style rifle out and began to aim it toward the crowd. After this activity, a volunteer peacekeeper saw this and fired three shots at Arturo Gamboa to stop him, and Arturo Gamboa also fired.
The volunteer peacekeeper was part of a group helping manage protest safety.
After this shooting at the peaceful protest, 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo was killed by one of those bullets. Arthur Folasa Ah Loo was known as Afa, who was a fashion designer and former Project Runway contestant.
Arturo Gamboa was arrested. He was wounded, but not seriously. He was treated at a hospital and then taken into custody. He is in jail without bail.
The peacekeeper is cooperating with police and is not facing any charges as of now.
The protest was organized by the 50501 Movement.
Leah Pittman said, “It was very peaceful… then we heard three loud bangs… we started running, and I ran past the victim lying on the ground, and I saw him bleeding from his head.”
“There was complete chaos. People running everywhere, a lot of screaming, a lot of crying…”
Sarah Parker, national coordinator for Utah’s 50501 Movement, said, “Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary.”
Police Chief Brian Redd stated, “Our victim was not the intended target, but rather an innocent bystander participating in the demonstration.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall urged calm:
“The purpose of today’s demonstration… cannot be overshadowed or silenced by a single act meant to harm… I want to urge everyone… be calm, give one another grace and look out for one another.”
