Police

Man Fatally Shot at 'No Kings' Protest in Utah

Published JUN 16 2025

Story

Above: Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd speaks during a press conference on June 15, 2025. Image credit: Salt Lake City Police Department

The Facts

A demonstrator attending the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, was killed after being shot by a peacekeeper who opened fire at another man brandishing a weapon, local law enforcement said over the weekend.
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USA Today
FOX News
In an update a day after the Saturday protest, police confirmed the identity of the deceased as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old resident of Utah. "The preliminary investigation shows Ah Loo was participating in the demonstration and appears to have been an innocent bystander who was not the intended target of the gunfire."
New South Wales Police
The statement added the shooting took place at roughly 7:56 p.m. local time when two peacekeepers, according to their interviews, noticed a man, identified by police as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack.
New South Wales Police
Police said that peacekeepers drew their firearms and ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon, but instead he raised his weapon in a firing position and started running towards protesters. One of the peacekeepers fired three rounds, one killing Ah Loo and another wounding Gamboa.
New South Wales Police
Gamboa was treated before being booked into jail, police further said. He was charged with conduct that created a grave risk of death while the actions of the peacekeepers are also being investigated, according to the statement.
New South Wales Police
It came as "No Kings" demonstrations protesting President Donald Trump were held in over 2,100 locations across the U.S. on Saturday. Most passed without incident but one protester was injured after being hit by an SUV in California, while a man was arrested after brandishing a handgun at a protest in Arizona.
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Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

This was a deeply troubling act of violence that has no space in the streets of Utah. Authorities must continue to investigate this incident to the best of their efforts.

Narrative B

While peacekeepers do not typically carry weapons and are normally instructed not to do so, and the death of an innocent bystander is tragic, the actions of these individuals likely prevented a much graver mass casualty event.