Man who fired at gunman and killed Utah ‘No Kings’ protester was a safety volunteer, organizers say
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A military veteran who was trying to stop an alleged gunman and inadvertently shot and killed a demonstrator at a Salt Lake City “No Kings” rally was a “safety volunteer” for the protest, according to police and organizers.
The safety volunteer fired three rounds at Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had allegedly brandished a rifle at Saturday’s crowd. The gunshots hit both Gamboa and a protester, police said.
Gamboa never shot the rifle and no formal criminal charges have been filed against him. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to the death of protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, police said. It is unclear what Gamboa intended to do with the rifle.
The investigation includes whether the man who shot Gamboa and Ah Loo was justified in firing his gun, the Salt Lake City Police Department said Monday.
Utah is an open-carry state, meaning people who can legally own a firearm are generally allowed to carry it on a public street.
“Inevitably there are going to be instances like this one, which may or may not have been a misunderstanding,” said Timothy Zick, a William & Mary Law School professor who has written about the laws surrounding public protests.
“It’s hard to sort out who’s acting lawfully with a firearm in the middle of an already crowded, sometimes chaotic protest space,” he said.
Police haven’t identified the veteran publicly.
Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, and that the role and responsibilities of event staff were being investigated.
The protest of some 10,000 was otherwise peaceful.
Here’s what is known so far about the shooting:
How did the shooting unfold?
Hundreds of protesters were marching through downtown Salt Lake City when, around 8 p.m., the veteran and another man said they spotted Gamboa, who was wearing all black clothing, move behind a wall and withdraw a rifle from a backpack, according to a police news release.
The two men drew their handguns and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, but witnesses said he instead moved toward the crowd and held his rifle in a “firing position,” according to police.
The safety volunteer shot three rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo. Gamboa’s wound was relatively minor and he was arrested nearby by police, who found a rifle, gas mask and backpack in the area.
Ah Loo died after being taken to a hospital. Police said they don’t yet know why Gamboa carried a rifle or allegedly disobeyed the orders from the two men.
What are safety marshals for demonstrations?
The Utah chapter of 50501 Movement, which helped organize the “No Kings” protest, said in a statement Monday that the man who confronted Gamboa was a “safety volunteer” meant to help maintain order and a military veteran.
“Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,” the statement said.
The group did not give further details on the person’s training or explain why he was armed. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501 Movement which helped organize the “No Kings” protests across the country, said all attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons.
It’s extremely rare for safety teams, often called safety marshals, to be armed. Instead, they rely on calm demeanor, communication skills and relationships with police and protesters to help keep order, said Edward Maguire, an Arizona State University criminology and criminal justice professor.
“Arming marshals or peacekeepers is widely discouraged, as it tends to create more problems than it solves,” Maguire said by email.
Who was the protester who was killed?
Ah Loo was a successful fashion designer and former “Project Runway” contestant who devoted his life to celebrating artists from the Pacific Islands.
Benjamin Powell, a friend of Ah Loo’s, said the 39-year-old was born in Samoa but lived in Utah for about a decade.
Ah Loo, who was a self-taught designer known to many as Afa, devoted his life to doing “good things for his neighbors and community,” state Rep. Verona Mauga, a close friend, told The Associated Press. Their families were from the small village of Lotopa in Samoa, she said.
Ah Loo leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to a GoFundMe page for his family.
Powell said he and Ah Loo were working on an August fashion show, which Powell said will now honor Ah Loo’s unwavering commitment to his community.
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Associated Press reporter Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed to this report.