A 39-year-old man was accidentally shot and killed during a ‘No Kings’ protest in Utah, according to Salt Lake City Police. The incident occurred when event security, responding to an armed suspect with a rifle, opened fire, mistakenly wounding the victim who later died.
The victim, identified as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot during the Saturday protest, which attracted around 10,000 people, and died later that night, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said. Redd emphasized that Ah Loo was not the intended target, as he was simply participating in the march.
Event security, including two peacekeepers in neon vests, opened fire after suspect Arturo Gamboa, 24, ran toward the crowd with a rifle. They saw Gamboa pull out a rifle before raising it in a firing position before moving toward a crowd of protesters. One of the men in the vests fired three times, striking both Gamboa and the victim, who later died. Gamboa was wounded and was allegedly found with a rifle and a gas mask in his backpack. Paramedics took Gamboa to the hospital, where he was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a charge of murder.
Two SWAT medics performed life-saving care on the victim before he was taken to a hospital, where he later died, police said. The shooter was cooperating with investigators, police added. Gamboa, who did not fire a shot, does not have any criminal history, the chief said.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of protest environments and the role of event security. As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.