Latest news with #ArturoGamboa
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
National 50501 Movement no longer affiliated with Salt Lake group after fatal shooting
SALT LAKE CITY — Organizers of the national 50501 Movement on Thursday announced they are disassociating themselves with the Salt Lake City affiliate following the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander by 'peacekeeper' volunteers of the group. 'We are unable to release any further information at this time as this is still an active legal investigation. To reiterate, we are decentralized. Each local group is autonomous, and they are responsible for their planning. Due to SLC 50501's disregard for our nonnegotiable values, we are no longer affiliated with them,' the national group announced Thursday on Facebook and other social media. On Saturday, about 8 p.m., as an estimated 10,000 people were marching on State Street, two men who police say described themselves as part of the 'peacekeeping' group for the rally spotted 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa near 151 S. State. One of the men says he watched Gamboa move away from the main crowd to a secluded area behind a wall. 'The peacekeepers found this behavior to be suspicious and kept Arturo in view. One of the peacekeepers observed Arturo remove an AR-15 style rifle from a backpack he was carrying. He observed Arturo begin to manipulate the rifle, and they called out to him to drop the gun after drawing their own firearms. Arturo then lifted the rifle, and according to witnesses he began to run toward the large crowd gathered on State Street holding the rifle in a firing position,' a police booking affidavit states. Police say Gamboa did not fire a shot during the confrontation with rally volunteers. But one of the two men who confronted him fired three rounds from his own handgun and injured Gamboa and also killed an innocent bystander, 39-year-old Arthur Folasa 'Afa' Ah Loo. Gamboa was arrested for investigation of murder. As of Thursday, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office said it was still considering formal charges. The so-called 'peacekeepers' were not arrested, but their cases will also be screened by the district attorney's office. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501, told CNN right after the incident that volunteer peacekeeping teams are common for protests. She said organizers ask attendees, including the peacekeepers, not to bring weapons. Still, Parker said the two men in Salt Lake City stopped what could have been a larger mass casualty event. 'Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary,' Parker said. On Thursday, however, the group issued a new statement saying that 'in the immediate aftermath, amid heartbreak and confusion, our early statements included inaccuracies shaped by fast-moving and incomplete information. We acknowledge those mistakes, and we deeply regret any additional harm they may have caused to Arturo.' The group now says the Salt Lake City 50501 organizers did not live up to national standards. 'The presence of weapons and any action that endangers lives stands in direct opposition to the values we uphold. We feel deep anguish that harm unfolded in a space connected to our name and vision,' the national group stated. 'While we do not permit firearms at 50501 protests, we recognize that Utah law permits the open carry of weapons, and this reality shaped some of the events that unfolded. 'As we mourn Afa's loss, we are taking deliberate steps to ensure that the name 50501 continues to reflect the values we hold sacred: disciplined, accountable and life-affirming. Our commitment to building a movement rooted in truth, nonviolence and the inherent dignity of al people remains unchanged,' the group said.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
What to know about the fatal shooting at a Utah 'No Kings' rally
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah investigators sought help from the public as they worked to unravel who was at fault when a safety volunteer at a weekend 'No Kings' rally fired at an alleged gunman and inadvertently hit and killed a protester. The safety volunteer, who has not been identified publicly, fired three rounds at Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had allegedly brandished a rifle at Saturday's crowd in downtown Salt Lake City. The gunshots hit both Gamboa and protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, according to the Salt Lake City police. Gamboa, who did not fire his rifle, was arrested on suspicion of murder, accused of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death, police said. No criminal charges have been filed. A state judge on Thursday granted a request by prosecutors to extend Gamboa's detention without bail until 5 p.m. on Monday, while investigators continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing footage of the incident, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said. Investigators are also looking into whether the safety volunteer was justified in firing his gun, according to police. Police on Wednesday asked the public for more video footage of events surrounding the shooting. It is unclear what Gamboa intended to do with the rifle. His father Albert Gamboa, reached by The Associated Press on Tuesday, declared his son's innocence in a brief phone call: 'My son, Arturo Gamboa, is an innocent guy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." 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. The protest of some 18,000 people was otherwise peaceful. Here's what is known so far about the shooting: How did it unfold? Thousands of protesters were marching through downtown Salt Lake City when, around 8 p.m., the safety volunteer 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. Ah Loo died after being taken to a hospital. Gamboa's wound was relatively minor, and he was arrested nearby by police, who found a rifle, gas mask and backpack in the area. Police said they do not yet know why Gamboa had the rifle or allegedly disobeyed the orders from the two men. The protest was one of hundreds nationwide Saturday against President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington, which marked the Army's 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump's birthday. 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 military veteran and 'safety volunteer' meant to help maintain order. '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,' organizers 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. Police said the permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, and event staffers' roles were under investigation. 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, 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 AP. Their families were both 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. ___ Bedayn reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
DA requests more time to review deadly ‘No Kings' Salt Lake City rally
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office was granted more time Thursday to determine what charges, if any, should be filed against the man arrested during Saturday's deadly 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City. 'Today, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office requested and was granted by a 3rd District Court judge an extension for the detention of Arturo Gamboa at the Salt Lake County Jail. A three-day extension was requested because the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has not yet received a formal screening of the evidence associated with the charge of murder, for which Mr. Gamboa was booked,' Sim Gill's office announced Thursday. Although police say he was armed with a rifle, Gamboa did not fire a shot during a confrontation with rally volunteers, one of whom fired three rounds from his own handgun and injured Gamboa, 24, but also killed an innocent bystander, 39-year-old Arthur Folasa 'Afa' Ah Loo. The incident happened just before 8 p.m. Saturday, as an estimated 10,000 people were marching on State Street. Two men who police say described themselves as part of the 'peacekeeping' group for the rally spotted Gamboa near 151 S. State. One of the men says he watched Gamboa move away from the main crowd to a secluded area behind a wall. 'The peacekeepers found this behavior to be suspicious and kept Arturo in view. One of the peacekeepers observed Arturo remove an AR-15 style rifle from a backpack he was carrying. He observed Arturo begin to manipulate the rifle, and they called out to him to drop the gun after drawing their own firearms. Arturo then lifted the rifle, and according to witnesses he began to run toward the large crowd gathered on State Street holding the rifle in a firing position,' a police booking affidavit states. After Gamboa was treated for a gunshot wound to the stomach, he was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder. Under state law, once a person is booked into jail, prosecutors have 'by 3 p.m. on the fourth calendar day after the defendant was booked' to file formal charges, as long as the fourth day isn't a weekend or holiday. If charges are not filed by then, prosecutors can request a person be held in jail for another three days while they screen potential charges. In asking for an extension to hold Gamboa, prosecutors noted that police are still interviewing witnesses and 'involved parties,' as well as going through 'voluminous amounts of surveillance and amateur footage of the incident. This extension will allow the police to present their evidence at a formal screening scheduled for this Friday and allow the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office sufficient time to review, analyze, and make an informed decision to any allegations of criminal wrongdoing,' Gill said Thursday, 'I ask for everyone's patience. When a person loses their life, we are all impacted as a community. It is critical that we are thorough, accurate, and faithful to the truth. Arthur Afa Ah Loo's family and our community of citizens deserve no less,' he said. The so-called 'peacekeeper' who fired the shots that killed Ah Loo and injured Gamboa was not arrested. However, police say the investigation into the man — whom event organizers say has military experience — has been continuing, and the district attorney, while screening for potential charges against Gamboa, will also determine if criminal charges are warranted against the 'peacekeeper.'
CNN
18 hours ago
- CNN
Utah ‘No Kings' protest: What we know about the fatal shooting
Newly released video appears to show the man arrested on suspicion of murder for the death of an innocent bystander at a 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City Saturday walking away with his rifle pointing down moments before a volunteer 'peacekeeper' opened fire in his direction, according to CNN affiliate KSTU. The bystander, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot and killed by a 'peacekeeper' who was allegedly aiming for the man with the rifle, believing him to be an 'imminent threat,' according to a police statement. Two 'peacekeepers' volunteering with event organizer Utah 50501's safety team told the Salt Lake City Police Department they noticed Arturo Gamboa behaving suspiciously and 'pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack and begin manipulating it.' Under Utah law, adults 21 and older may openly carry or conceal a firearm without a permit. The volunteers, who were armed with handguns and wearing neon green vests, told police they 'ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon' before one of the 'peacekeepers' opened fire on protesters, according to a police statement Sunday. Witnesses reported Gamboa was holding the rifle in a firing position and running toward the protesters after being confronted by the 'peacekeepers,' police said. A Salt Lake City police sergeant heard the gunfire just before 8 p.m. local time. 'As panic spread throughout the area, hundreds of people ran for safety, hiding in parking garages, behind barriers, and going into nearby businesses,' police said in the statement. The 'peacekeeper' fired three rounds, fatally wounding Ah Loo and shooting Gamboa, who was taken to the hospital before he was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a charge of murder, police said. 'Detectives have developed probable cause that Gamboa acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death and ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member,' police said in the statement on Sunday. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office told CNN earlier this week that the murder charge against Gamboa had not been finalized. Gamboa remains in custody at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail Thursday after a district court judge granted the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office's motion to extend his detention for three more days. Without the extension, authorities would have had to formally bring charges against Gamboa or release him within 72 hours of his arrest, per state law. 'A three-day extension was requested because the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has not yet received a formal screening of the evidence associated with the charge of murder, for which Mr. Gamboa was booked,' the DA's office said in a statement. 'Detectives continue to interview witnesses and involved parties, as well as review voluminous amounts of surveillance and amateur footage of the incident.' Police will present their evidence at a formal screening scheduled for Friday, and the district attorney's Office will then make a decision whether to pursue charges, the statement said. It is not immediately clear if Gamboa has an attorney. CNN has reached out to the public defender's office, the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, for more information. Authorities have not identified the 'peacekeeper' who shot Ah Loo, and declined to comment on whether he will be charged in connection with the shooting. A longtime friend told CNN Thursday Gamboa would never hurt anyone. 'Arturo is not violent, he's never been violent,' Konrad Keele said. 'Anyone that knows Arturo loves Arturo. He's always been kind and very gentle.' Keele said he's known Gamboa for nine years, having met through Salt Lake City's independent punk rock scene. Gamboa is politically active, Keele said, and goes to many protests where he often open carries, but would not have if organizers asked him not to. 'I would say the chances of him even thinking about doing a mass shooting are zero,' Keele said. Gamboa's family is 'broken-hearted and very confused,' according to Keele. Utah 50501, the group that organized the protest, told The Salt Lake Tribune that the 'peacekeepers' are 'safety volunteers' who were responding to a perceived threat against the demonstrators. 'Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed that there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,' the group said. 'The safety volunteer who responded to the individual and who was questioned by police is a military veteran.' 'Detectives are still actively investigating this case, to include the actions of the peacekeepers,' police said. The Salt Lake City Police Department is seeking video footage from before, after and during the shooting as they work 'to piece together exactly what happened,' the department said in a statement. The 'peacekeepers' were not 'overseen, sanctioned, or trained' by the department and neither of the two men is a current or former law enforcement officer, according to police. 'From the department's standpoint, these persons are considered members of the public, subject to the same rights and responsibilities as any other person in Utah,' police said in a statement. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for the 50501 Movement, told the Associated Press that peacekeeping teams are common at large protests, but they are usually not armed with any weapons. 'Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary,' she said. Initial video from the scene shows bystanders flagging police to a man wearing a black shirt, black jeans and black boots. 'That's a rifle right here,' one man is heard saying. 'I just grabbed it from this guy right here,' gesturing to the man in black, later identified as Gamboa. The video shows officers rushing Gamboa and taking him into custody. But the new video obtained by KSTU shows a different angle of the shooting, potentially challenging the original narrative reported. Police first said witnesses reported Gamboa pointed his rifle and ran at demonstrators after the 'peacekeepers' told him to drop his weapon, but the new video appears to show Gamboa's rifle pointing toward the ground, and he doesn't start running until after the 'peacekeeper' fires his gun. The video also shows Gamboa jogging along the protest route and then ducking behind a fence – a move the 'peacekeeper' told detectives he found suspicious. Gamboa can be seen on the video through the slats in the fence and it appears he bends down. Police have said he removed the rifle from his backpack. The rifle cannot be seen in this video. CNN has not independently obtained or verified the newly released video. In a statement Thursday, police said it would be 'inappropriate and premature' to comment on any specific evidence. 'Our focus is on conducting a thorough, impartial, and fact-driven investigation to ensure the integrity and fairness of any future legal proceedings,' the statement said. Ah Loo, 39, who went by the name Afa, was a husband, a father and a renowned fashion designer, according to a GoFundMe page established to help his widow Laura and their two children. The Utah resident was also a co-founder of the nonprofit Creative Pacific and appeared on the fashion design reality TV show 'Project Runway.' 'Afa was a proud Samoan, deeply connected to his culture and community…he shared his heritage with passion and creativity,' the GoFundMe page said. The Salt Lake City Police Department said Sunday officers, with the assistance of community members, 'immediately began life-saving efforts' when they found Ah Loo. Ah Loo was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Utah 50501 told The Salt Lake Tribune they are mourning Ah Loo. 'Afa's name, courage, and commitment to his people will never be forgotten,' the group said. Ah Loo was joined by 18,000 protesters who packed downtown Salt Lake City for the 'No Kings' protest – one of 2,000 events nationwide denouncing the Trump administration. 'This was a horrific moment of violence in a historic day full of thousands of Utahns exercising their right to protest. Nothing will ever change the undeniable strength of our community,' Utah 50501 said in a statement on social media.
CNN
18 hours ago
- CNN
Utah ‘No Kings' protest: What we know about the fatal shooting
Newly released video appears to show the man arrested on suspicion of murder for the death of an innocent bystander at a 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City Saturday walking away with his rifle pointing down moments before a volunteer 'peacekeeper' opened fire in his direction, according to CNN affiliate KSTU. The bystander, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot and killed by a 'peacekeeper' who was allegedly aiming for the man with the rifle, believing him to be an 'imminent threat,' according to a police statement. Two 'peacekeepers' volunteering with event organizer Utah 50501's safety team told the Salt Lake City Police Department they noticed Arturo Gamboa behaving suspiciously and 'pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack and begin manipulating it.' Under Utah law, adults 21 and older may openly carry or conceal a firearm without a permit. The volunteers, who were armed with handguns and wearing neon green vests, told police they 'ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon' before one of the 'peacekeepers' opened fire on protesters, according to a police statement Sunday. Witnesses reported Gamboa was holding the rifle in a firing position and running toward the protesters after being confronted by the 'peacekeepers,' police said. A Salt Lake City police sergeant heard the gunfire just before 8 p.m. local time. 'As panic spread throughout the area, hundreds of people ran for safety, hiding in parking garages, behind barriers, and going into nearby businesses,' police said in the statement. The 'peacekeeper' fired three rounds, fatally wounding Ah Loo and shooting Gamboa, who was taken to the hospital before he was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a charge of murder, police said. 'Detectives have developed probable cause that Gamboa acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death and ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member,' police said in the statement on Sunday. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office told CNN earlier this week that the murder charge against Gamboa had not been finalized. Gamboa remains in custody at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail Thursday after a district court judge granted the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office's motion to extend his detention for three more days. Without the extension, authorities would have had to formally bring charges against Gamboa or release him within 72 hours of his arrest, per state law. 'A three-day extension was requested because the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has not yet received a formal screening of the evidence associated with the charge of murder, for which Mr. Gamboa was booked,' the DA's office said in a statement. 'Detectives continue to interview witnesses and involved parties, as well as review voluminous amounts of surveillance and amateur footage of the incident.' Police will present their evidence at a formal screening scheduled for Friday, and the district attorney's Office will then make a decision whether to pursue charges, the statement said. It is not immediately clear if Gamboa has an attorney. CNN has reached out to the public defender's office, the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, for more information. Authorities have not identified the 'peacekeeper' who shot Ah Loo, and declined to comment on whether he will be charged in connection with the shooting. A longtime friend told CNN Thursday Gamboa would never hurt anyone. 'Arturo is not violent, he's never been violent,' Konrad Keele said. 'Anyone that knows Arturo loves Arturo. He's always been kind and very gentle.' Keele said he's known Gamboa for nine years, having met through Salt Lake City's independent punk rock scene. Gamboa is politically active, Keele said, and goes to many protests where he often open carries, but would not have if organizers asked him not to. 'I would say the chances of him even thinking about doing a mass shooting are zero,' Keele said. Gamboa's family is 'broken-hearted and very confused,' according to Keele. Utah 50501, the group that organized the protest, told The Salt Lake Tribune that the 'peacekeepers' are 'safety volunteers' who were responding to a perceived threat against the demonstrators. 'Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed that there was an imminent threat to the protestors and took action,' the group said. 'The safety volunteer who responded to the individual and who was questioned by police is a military veteran.' 'Detectives are still actively investigating this case, to include the actions of the peacekeepers,' police said. The Salt Lake City Police Department is seeking video footage from before, after and during the shooting as they work 'to piece together exactly what happened,' the department said in a statement. The 'peacekeepers' were not 'overseen, sanctioned, or trained' by the department and neither of the two men is a current or former law enforcement officer, according to police. 'From the department's standpoint, these persons are considered members of the public, subject to the same rights and responsibilities as any other person in Utah,' police said in a statement. Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for the 50501 Movement, told the Associated Press that peacekeeping teams are common at large protests, but they are usually not armed with any weapons. 'Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary,' she said. Initial video from the scene shows bystanders flagging police to a man wearing a black shirt, black jeans and black boots. 'That's a rifle right here,' one man is heard saying. 'I just grabbed it from this guy right here,' gesturing to the man in black, later identified as Gamboa. The video shows officers rushing Gamboa and taking him into custody. But the new video obtained by KSTU shows a different angle of the shooting, potentially challenging the original narrative reported. Police first said witnesses reported Gamboa pointed his rifle and ran at demonstrators after the 'peacekeepers' told him to drop his weapon, but the new video appears to show Gamboa's rifle pointing toward the ground, and he doesn't start running until after the 'peacekeeper' fires his gun. The video also shows Gamboa jogging along the protest route and then ducking behind a fence – a move the 'peacekeeper' told detectives he found suspicious. Gamboa can be seen on the video through the slats in the fence and it appears he bends down. Police have said he removed the rifle from his backpack. The rifle cannot be seen in this video. CNN has not independently obtained or verified the newly released video. In a statement Thursday, police said it would be 'inappropriate and premature' to comment on any specific evidence. 'Our focus is on conducting a thorough, impartial, and fact-driven investigation to ensure the integrity and fairness of any future legal proceedings,' the statement said. Ah Loo, 39, who went by the name Afa, was a husband, a father and a renowned fashion designer, according to a GoFundMe page established to help his widow Laura and their two children. The Utah resident was also a co-founder of the nonprofit Creative Pacific and appeared on the fashion design reality TV show 'Project Runway.' 'Afa was a proud Samoan, deeply connected to his culture and community…he shared his heritage with passion and creativity,' the GoFundMe page said. The Salt Lake City Police Department said Sunday officers, with the assistance of community members, 'immediately began life-saving efforts' when they found Ah Loo. Ah Loo was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Utah 50501 told The Salt Lake Tribune they are mourning Ah Loo. 'Afa's name, courage, and commitment to his people will never be forgotten,' the group said. Ah Loo was joined by 18,000 protesters who packed downtown Salt Lake City for the 'No Kings' protest – one of 2,000 events nationwide denouncing the Trump administration. 'This was a horrific moment of violence in a historic day full of thousands of Utahns exercising their right to protest. Nothing will ever change the undeniable strength of our community,' Utah 50501 said in a statement on social media.
