Latest news with #Utah50501
CNN
a day 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
a day 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
a day 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Peacekeeper' involved in shooting at SLC ‘No Kings' protest is a military veteran, organizers say
People take cover after gunshots rang out during the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) As questions continue to circle around the 'peacekeepers' acting as armed security at the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, when police say a man inadvertently shot and killed a bystander, protest organizers issued a statement Tuesday saying the 'safety volunteer' who was involved is a 'military veteran.' 'During the protest an individual was spotted holding an AR-15 style weapon,' organizers with Utah 50501 said in the prepared statement provided to Utah News Dispatch on Tuesday. '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 protesters and took action.' Utah 50501 is a state chapter of the 50501 Movement, a grassroots group that organizes rallies to protest actions by President Donald Trump and his administration. According to Salt Lake City police, the shooting happened after two men described as 'peacekeepers' confronted another man, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was carrying an AR-15 style rifle. One of the men, reportedly part of the event's security team, fired three shots from a handgun, grazing Gamboa but also hitting an 'innocent bystander,' Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, who was pronounced dead at a hospital. Beloved Utah fashion designer's friends remember his life and his last moments Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Gamboa, and he was booked into jail for investigation of murder. Police say, however, that Gamboa did not fire his rifle. The two 'peacekeepers,' who wore high-visability vests, were initially detained by police, but were released after being questioned. Police said the man who fired the three shots is cooperating with investigators. 'The safety volunteer who responded to the individual (holding the rifle) and who was questioned by police is a military veteran,' the Utah 50501 statement said. 'The person currently in custody was apprehended thanks to a protester who saw the rifle and brought it to police attention.' In the statement, Utah 50501 organizers also expressed 'profound heartbreak' for the death of Ah Loo. 'We are mourning Afa Ah Loo with everything we have, and we are holding his family and friends in our hearts,' the statement said. 'Afa's name, courage, and commitment to his people will never be forgotten. We express our dearest and deepest sympathy to all those who knew and loved him.' The protests' organizers also noted the investigation into the shooting is 'still currently ongoing. At this time SLCPD has not chosen to charge any of the volunteers.' Salt Lake City police are investigating the shooting, but the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will ultimately decide charges. As of Tuesday, no charges had been filed against Gamboa or anyone else involved in the shooting. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has declined to say whether prosecutors are considering filing any charges against the 'peacekeepers' who were involved in the shooting. Man dies after being shot in chaotic scene at Salt Lake City's 'No Kings' protest 'This continues to be an active investigation by the SLCPD that is yet to be screened by our office, which is not uncommon or of concern as we remain so early into the criminal inquiry,' Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday. 'When the gathered evidence is presented to our office and homicide team, we will have a better understanding of facts, evidence and any chargeable decision,' Gill continued. 'Until then any conjecture would be purely speculative, inaccurate and inappropriate.' Gill urged Utahns to 'be patient and let law enforcement finish their work.' He also asked anyone 'who may have evidence or may be witnesses to contact and share that information with the SLCPD.' He referred to a link to the Salt Lake City Police Department's website, where evidence can be submitted online. In the days following the chaotic shooting, unanswered questions remain, including more details of who the 'peacekeepers' were and how they were vetted to be acting as armed security. Questions also remain regarding Gamboa's intentions and why he brought a rifle to the protest. As Utahns grieve Ah Loo's death, some have applauded actions by the 'peacekeepers' to prevent what could have been a mass shooting, while others have questioned whether the armed man who shot at Gamboa and inadvertently fatally struck Ah Loo acted appropriately. The Utah 50501 statement provided Tuesday offered a bit more information about who the protest's organizers said served as 'safety volunteers,' including that the people selected had 'military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience,' and that the man involved was a 'military veteran.' However, other questions remain unanswered, including the ages of the two 'peacekeepers' that were involved in the shooting, how they were vetted, and how many of them present at the protest were armed. The Utah News Dispatch on Monday sent emails to both national and local organizers asking those questions and others. On Tuesday, Utah organizers pointed to the prepared statement and declined to provide interviews at this time. 'The organizers genuinely want to engage with the public but we have to balance the public's need for transparency with the participant's legal and psychological health,' the organizers said in an email. Utah 50501 organizers have drawn some criticism over the shooting, including from other local activist groups. The group Armed Queers SLC, which describes itself as an 'LGBTQ organization dedicated to the defense, and success, of oppressed people's movements,' posted a statement on its Instagram story saying 'we are still shocked at how the events unraveled' at the protest. 'Armed Queers takes gun ownership and its use for defense of our communities very seriously, and reject the way this situation was handled,' the group said. 'This event resulted in a direct loss of life that could have been avoided, and other measures should have been in place for proper de-escalation before openly shooting into a vulnerable crowd.' Armed Queers, the statement said, 'had no involvement in the planning' of Salt Lake City's 'No Kings' protest, adding that though some members attended, 'Armed Queers was given very little information about this event or our role in it.' 'We were asked to work as extra members of 50501's de-escalation team 2 days before the event,' their statement added. 'We agreed to participate because the organizers were concerned about agitators, but we were given very few details and transparency about the de-escalation plan.' The group said its members 'worked as a 'secondary de-escalation' team, and had no real interaction with agitators, or coordination with the event organizers while fulfilling that role.' It noted that no Armed Queers members were wearing high-visability vests, and no Armed Queers were 'part of any escalation of events.' 'One of Armed Queers' founding principles is 'The abolition of prisons and police as they serve as nothing but tools of capitalist oppression.' We completely reject any collaboration with the police or efforts by the state to celebrate certain protest movements, while repressing others,' the Armed Queers statement added. 'We were only made aware of any information being shared with the police when public videos had surfaced of 50501's team.' The group added that they grieve 'the killing of Afa Ah Loo. His life was unjustly cut short, and our hearts are with his family and his community.' Organizers with the national 50501 Movement have said they discourage people from bringing firearms to protests. 'In the face of this heartbreaking situation, we would like to affirm our commitment to nonviolence and to our non-negotiable prohibition of firearms policy for anyone representing 50501 at any of our actions or events,' organizers with the national 50501 Movement said in a Facebook post Monday. 'It is clear we do not have a complete understanding of what happened yet. What is certain is that, if no guns were present at the protest, this tragedy would have been prevented altogether.' Utah, however, is a 'constitutional carry' state, which means its laws allow the open and concealed carrying of firearms without a permit for those who are legally allowed to possess them. In 2021, with HB60, the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature eliminated the state's concealed carry permit requirements. Now, anyone 21 and over who can legally possess a gun is free to carry it loaded and hidden in public. Unlike 26 other states, Utah has not adopted a law prohibiting carrying long guns at state capitols or political protests, according to Everytown Research & Policy, an organization that produces research on gun violence and advocates for gun violence prevention. The group has ranked Utah as No. 36 in the country for 'gun law strength.' Salt Lake City Police spokesperson Brent Weisberg said in a lengthy statement issued Monday that police are continuing to investigate the 'peacekeepers' involvement, as well as other aspects of the protest's organization and staffing. He said neither of the two men identified as 'peacekeepers' involved in the shooting were 'current or former members of law enforcement, including the Salt Lake City Police Department.' Police investigating 'peacekeepers' role in fatal shooting at 'No Kings' protest in Utah 'While Utah law governs when and how a person may carry and use a firearm, the lawfulness of any individual's possession or use depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each case,' Weisberg said. Weisberg said it 'remains unclear whether these individuals were hired by or volunteered for the event organizers, or acted on their own initiative.' He also noted that the term 'peacekeeper' does not 'represent any formal designation recognized by the Salt Lake City Police Department or the City,' and that there was 'no record in the event's permit indicating the presence of organized or armed security.' He said the 'peacekeeping' term was how the volunteer questioned by police 'self-identified.' 'While the Salt Lake City Police Department was aware that Saturday's demonstration would include people in support roles, such as those helping to marshal or guide the crowd, these functions are entirely internal to the event,' Weisberg said. 'They are not overseen, sanctioned, or trained by the Salt Lake City Police Department. 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.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
What to know about the shooting that killed a demonstrator at a Utah ‘No Kings' rally
Questions remain over why Gamboa was carrying a rifle and what he intended to do with it. Protest organizers said late Monday that the person who confronted him was a volunteer on a 'safety team' that was supposed to help maintain order during the demonstration. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The permit for the protest did not specify that there would be armed security, police said. The role and responsibilities of event staff were being investigated, they said. Advertisement 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 on Saturday when, around 8 p.m., two men said they spotted Gamboa, who was wearing all black clothing, move behind a wall and then withdraw a rifle from a backpack, according to a news release from police. The two men drew their handguns and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, but witnesses said the young man instead moved toward the crowd and held his rifle in a 'firing position,' according to police. Advertisement One of the two men shot three rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo. Gamboa's wound was relatively minor and he was arrested by police nearby, 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 disobeyed the orders from the two men. The Associated Press could not immediately find attorney listed for Gamboa or contact information for his family in public records. Was the man who shot Gamboa and Ah Loo a 'peacekeeper'? The man and a second person who confronted Gamboa wore neon green vests, and one of them later described himself to investigators as a 'peacekeeper.' Their identities have not been publicly released. Police said Monday the term peacekeeper was not a formal designation recognized by the Salt Lake Police Department or the city, adding that there was no indication that the men were current or former members of law enforcement. Protests often have safety teams — sometimes called safety marshals — that help keep order during a demonstration. Utah 50501, which helped organize the demonstrations, said the person who confronted Gamboa was a military veteran but did not give further details on the person's training or explain why he was armed. '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 group said in a statement. For the 'No Kings' protests, all attendees, including those in safety roles, were asked not to bring weapons, said Sarah Parker, a national coordinator for 50501 Movement. Advertisement 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 designer 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. The 39-year-old 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 upcoming August fashion show, which Powell said will now honor Ah Loo's unwavering commitment to his community.
