Latest news with #Utahns
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Before the shots rang out, nonviolence and unity defined ‘No Kings' protest
People take part in the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) For more than two hours, 10,000 protesters coalesced in their anger against President Donald Trump and his policies to march peacefully through scorching Salt Lake City streets Saturday. They had cheered organizers' urging for nonviolence and reveled in moments of unity as they walked, from appreciative honks from waiting cars to church bells ringing out for them as they passed St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. Just before 8 p.m., gunshots sounded, sending the crowd scrambling. Police confirmed Sunday that an individual who they said was 'possibly part of the event's peacekeeping team' had spotted a man with a rifle approaching the marchers, and fired. That man, identified as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, sustained a minor gunshot wound and was later arrested and booked into jail for investigation of murder. An innocent bystander walking in the protest, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, was also shot. He died of his injuries Saturday night. A long list of questions remains. But up until that moment, the message of the event had been the same as protests happening in cities large and small around the country, part of a nationwide declaration of defiance of Trump coinciding with a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C. marking the Army's 250th anniversary, a date that was also the president's 79th birthday. The Salt Lake City demonstration was the last and largest of 11 planned protests across the state Saturday, including a demonstration that drew thousands more to the University of Utah that morning. Speaking to reporters on a dark Salt Lake City street about two hours after the shooting, the city's police chief and mayor both praised the protesters for exercising their rights peacefully and without incident. 'We had thousands of people come out today, not only in Salt Lake City, but in protests around the state, protests around this nation, and they were, by and large, peaceful demonstrations,' Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. 'We are a nation that needs our First Amendment right. We deserve to be able to protest in peace. And what happened today, I hope, will not silence the voices of the public who deserve to have their voices heard.' Protesters' chants included 'This is what democracy looks like,' 'Trump is a felon,' and 'No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.' There were also some unflattering shoutouts to elected Utah officials including Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Celeste Maloy, Gov. Spencer Cox and state Rep. Trevor Lee. Despite Utah's unquestioned status as a red haven, with Republicans consistently holding the governor's office, all of the state's congressional seats and a supermajority in the Legislature, Utahns who disagree with Trump's politics have been making their voices heard in growing numbers since the president began his second term, including earlier in the week. Some protesters, like Ogden sisters Kimberly and Heidi Cruzatt, marched on behalf of those concerned about demonstrating publicly. They wore scrubs, a symbol of their Peruvian parents' work as CNAs. 'I believe it's not safe for them, and they have a family at home to take care of, so I don't want to risk them any harm being here,' said Heidi Cruzatt. Kimberly Cruzatt carried a poster styled after the broadway hit 'Hamilton' logo, including the line 'Immigrants, we get the job done.' 'It's about Alexander Hamilton, but since he's an immigrant, he's decided, 'OK, I think everybody who has come from different countries has collaborated in the community,'' she explained. Not far from the sisters was Rachel Blackmer, of Taylorsville, who teaches English to adult immigrants and trains foster parents to care for refugee teenagers. In the center of the sign she carried above her head, Blackmer drew a heart with words 'Protect the immigrants I love' inside, and dozens of names of her students appearing around it. 'Everyone I care about is being threatened right now. My students tell me about how scared they are, and they carry their ID with them, but that isn't even good enough. They're still scared, and I'm really excited to show them my sign and show them their names on it and why I'm here,' Blackmer said. Looking at the sea of people around her, Blackmer said she hopes the scale of the recent protests will spur change, comparing it to the height of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. 'I'm really hoping that our country will respond even more than they did back then, this will be even bigger, and more people will respond,' she said. Why protest? 'They work,' she said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Police investigating ‘peacekeepers' role in fatal shooting at ‘No Kings' protest in Utah
A man receives medical attention after being taken into police custody after a shooting at the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Who were the 'peacekeepers?' And did they have any formal qualifications or training to be acting as armed security? Those questions, among others, remained unanswered Monday after a man marching in the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City, identified as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot and killed on Saturday. According to 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 Ah Loo, who police said was an 'innocent bystander.' Ah Loo later died at the hospital. Man dies after being shot in chaotic scene at Salt Lake City's 'No Kings' protest 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 police. While Utahns grieve the killing of Ah Loo, some applauded the 'peacekeepers'' actions to prevent what could have turned into a mass shooting. Others questioned whether the armed man who shot at Gamboa and inadvertently fatally struck Ah Loo acted appropriately. According to an affidavit of probable cause for Gamboa's arrest, one of the 'peacekeepers' told police he saw Gamboa 'move away from the main crowd into a secluded area behind a wall.' There, he observed Gamboa take out an AR-15 style rifle from his backpack and begin to 'manipulate it.' Then they 'called out to him to drop the gun after drawing their own firearms,' according to the affidavit. '(Gamboa) 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,' the affidavit says. That's when one of the 'peacekeepers' fired three rounds at Gamboa. One of the bullets hit Ah Loo, 'causing a fatal wound.' 'The peacekeepers then attempted to provide medical aid to the victim, who was pronounced dead at the hospital,' the affidavit said. 'Arturo Gamboa was acting under circumstances evidencing a depraved indifference to human life, and knowingly engages in conduct that creates a grave risk of death to another individual and thereby causes the death of the other individual.' In a statement issued Monday afternoon, the Salt Lake City Police Department said it's investigating the involvement of the 'peacekeepers,' as well as other aspects of the protest's organization and staffing. 'At this time, it remains unclear whether these individuals were hired by or volunteered for the event organizers, or acted on their own initiative,' Salt Lake City Police spokesperson Brent Weisberg said. 2 people shot, including suspect in custody, during 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City, Utah The 'No Kings' protest was organized by a Utah chapter of the 50501 Movement, a grassroots group that organizes rallies to protest actions by President Donald Trump and his administration. Utah News Dispatch emailed a list of questions to both national and local organizers asking about the role of 'peacekeepers' during the event, how many were in Salt Lake City, how they were vetted, if at all, and whether they had qualifications or training to be acting as armed security during the protest. Those questions, and requests for comment, were not immediately returned Monday. However, in a Sunday post on the national 50501's Facebook page, the group said, '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.' 'It is clear we do not have a complete understanding of what happened yet,' the group said. 'What is certain is that, if no guns were present at this protest, this tragedy would have been prevented altogether.' The group added that 'our hearts are with (Ah Loo's) family and community during this time of unimaginable loss and grief.' Sarah Parker, a national coordinator with the 50501 Movement, also described the event's 'peacekeepers' as volunteers who helped direct the march and were responsible for keeping attendees safe, The New York Times reported. She also estimated that 15 to 20 such volunteers were at the protest in Salt Lake City, according to the Times. Volunteer peacekeeping teams are common for protests, Parker told the Associated Press. But she said organizers typically ask attendees, including peacekeepers, not to bring weapons. Still, she said she believed they likely stopped what could have been a larger mass shooting. 'Our safety team did as best as they could in a situation that is extremely sad and extremely scary,' Parker said. In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Utah chapter of the 50501 movement thanked Utahns for their 'outpouring of support for the victim's family.' It also addressed criticism that the group had disclosed the victim had died before Salt Lake City police released that information to the media, saying 'our team was directly involved.' 'Some of you seem to think a keyboard and social media give you a free pass to be nasty and accusatory,' the Facebook post said. 'Our teams just had to deal with something extremely traumatizing and when faced with personal risk to their own lives, chose to run towards the danger in order to serve this community.' In a lengthy statement Monday as questions and criticism swirled around the 'peacekeepers' and their role, Weisberg said the term was first used in a probable cause affidavit for the arrest of Gamboa and later appeared in a news release Sunday, 'reflecting how one of the men questioned self-described as a 'peacekeeper' during interviews with SLCPD detectives in the early stages of the investigation.' 'The SLCPD will be learning more, through its investigation, about the event staffing during this event, including the roles, responsibilities, and terminology of individuals who may have been assisting during the event,' Weisberg said. He added that the term 'peacekeeper' does not 'represent any formal designation recognized by the Salt Lake City Police Department or the City.' And he said there is 'no information, at this time, about whether this is an official term used by the event organizers.' 'There is no record in the event's permit indicating the presence of organized or armed security,' he said. 'Based on the information currently available to the Salt Lake City Police Department, neither of the men identified as 'peacekeepers' are current or former members of law enforcement, including the Salt Lake City Police Department.' Earlier Monday, Utah News Dispatch submitted a list of questions to the Salt Lake City Police Department asking to what extent, if any, the Salt Lake City Police Department had coordinated with event organizers or teams acting as security. The Dispatch also asked whether Salt Lake police officers were aware of 'peacekeepers' concealing or carrying firearms and if they were investigating their qualifications to be acting as security. '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.' However, Weisberg said the Salt Lake City Police Department's public order unit and its police liaison officers 'worked with event organizers prior to and during Saturday's event to coordinate with the goal of having a peaceful and lawful demonstration.' 'The Salt Lake City Police Department does not direct or manage security roles and responsibilities unless that requirement is outlined in the event's approved permit, of which it was not,' Weisberg said. The case remains under investigation. Charges, as of Monday afternoon, had not been filed against Gamboa or anyone else involved in the shooting. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office declined to say whether prosecutors are considering filing any charges against the 'peacekeepers' who were involved in the shooting. 'As this continues to be an active investigation, any comment at this time would be inappropriate,' Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a prepared statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Utah is a 'constitutional carry' state, which means it allows 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 the carrying of 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.' No information has been released about the 'peacekeepers,' including how old they are and whether they were legally able to carry and conceal firearms. '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. In the wake of Saturday's shooting — as well as a shooting the following day at WestFest, a carnival in West Valley City, that left three dead, including an 8-month-old baby — gun control advocates called for change. 8-month-old baby among 3 dead from shooting at West Valley City carnival 'From marching in our communities, to attending carnivals, the recent tragedies in our state makes it clear we are not safe until our state addresses our gun violence crisis,' said Jaden Christensen, a Utah chapter leader of Moms Demand Action. 'This is not freedom, it's a failure of leadership. The gun violence we're seeing across our state and country should be a blaring alarm for lawmakers: it's time to act with the urgency this moment demands. Enough is enough.' Utah House Democrats also issued a statement called the shootings in Utah — along with the slayings of lawmakers in Minnesota — 'heartbreaking, but unfortunately, not surprising.' 'The conditions for this kind of violence have been building for years, driven by a toxic combination of hateful rhetoric and easy access to firearms,' Utah House Democratic leadership said. 'That rhetoric, often amplified by leaders at the local, state, and federal levels, has created an environment that often leads to violence.' They added that their Republican colleagues 'insist that 'guns don't kill people — people kill people.' Yet many of those same leaders use their platforms to target marginalized communities, spread misinformation, and stoke division.' 'We urge all elected officials to reflect on the impact of their words and how they contribute to the dangerous climate we face today,' they said. 'As a caucus, we remain committed to advancing policies that reduce gun violence, promote accountability, and protect the safety and dignity of every Utahn. We call on others to join us in that commitment.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Eight month old among three people killed in WestFest shooting
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah () — West Valley City Police confirm that three people have been killed and two injured in a shooting at WestFest late Sunday evening. Roxanne Vainuku with West Valley City Police confirms that a total of five people were shot, killing three. The incident started when two groups got into a verbal argument. As police approached the scene to break up the fight, a 16-year-old suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire. A West Valley Police officer responded by drawing his weapon and firing but did not hit the suspect. The victims killed in the shooting were identified as an 18-year-old male, a 41-year-old female and an 8-month-old infant. Police say the 41-year-old woman and the infant were bystanders at West Fest and not involved in the altercation. The 18-year-old was in one of the groups involved in the fight and died. Two teens, a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male, were also struck by gunfire in the arm. Police said it is currently unclear if they were connected to either of the two groups. The West Valley Police Department said one officer fired his gun but did not hit the 16-year-old suspect. That suspect has been detained and taken into custody by police. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Attacks between Israel and Iran intensify Republicans face critical week on Trump megabill Critical fire weather conditions for southern Utah today as hot and windy weather continues Eight month old among three people killed in WestFest shooting Utahns remember local fashion designer killed in protest Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
80% of the world is now within 1 stop of Salt Lake City thanks to its newest direct flight
A small cheer erupted at Gate A25 when a Delta Air Lines gate agent got onto the intercom to welcome passengers to the inaugural flight between Salt Lake City and Incheon, South Korea. Some passengers were still sifting through meal boxes set up in the corner, including a cookie featuring a logo to celebrate the occasion. A few were also taking photos with Delta's mascot, Widgey, which made an appearance. A louder cheer broke out moments later when representatives from Salt Lake City and Incheon international airports gathered to cut a ribbon that signaled the opening of this new daily route. The crowd then began eagerly boarding the fully booked Airbus A350-900, which lifted into the hazy blue sky at noon as it began its roughly 13-hour journey. While this was just one of several flights out of Salt Lake City International Airport that took place Thursday, this new service is major in linking Utah's capital city with the world. It also has importance beyond passenger travel. This flight marked Salt Lake City's first direct flight to Asia in 15 years, eliminating the need for Utahns to fly to another U.S. city before flying to Asia. That means about 80% of the world is now accessible within one stop of the city, said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, speaking at a celebration of the new route earlier in the day. It makes it easier for Utahns to travel to Asia, and for South Koreans and residents of other Asian countries to visit Utah. 'This is a monumental step forward … and my invitation to Salt Lakers is to start looking out for more visitors from Asia, and welcome them with open arms,' Mendenhall said. What helps is that Incheon International Airport, which is located less than 20 miles from South Korea's capital of Seoul, is also a key hub for Korean Airlines, which coordinates frequently with Delta. That means passengers flying in from Utah can quickly connect to other major Asian cities. At the same time, it now connects Incheon with all four of Delta's key U.S. hubs, said Daniel Dongik Shin, executive director of the Hub Strategy Group, which oversees Incheon International Airport expansion. 'This new service is more than just an additional route; it is the opening of a new air corridor connecting the U.S. and Northeast Asia,' he said. The Airbus can seat over 300 passengers, much more than most flights in and out of Salt Lake City, which speaks to the benefit of the city's new airport. The old facility could fit similarly-sized planes, but it was a logistical nightmare. Airlines needed to use three gates just to accommodate its size, which took away from other potential flights in and out of the facility, which is why airlines were hesitant to bring nonstop flights of Incheon size to Utah, Wyatt explained. 'This one would have been extremely difficult to service in the old airport, and now we can line up six of them on the other side,' he told The plane's wider belly means more than just passenger travel, too. It has enough space that it will be easier for businesses to transport cargo between Salt Lake City and South Korea, Wyatt points out. The new service helps cut travel time for pieces of the state's supply chain. Utah exports can end up in South Korea, while items manufactured in South Korea — home to Samsung, LG Electronics, Hyundai and other big global brands — can be imported into Utah faster. Salt Lake City and Utah Inland Port Authority officials are expected to travel to South Korea later this year to bolster these new trade opportunities. It's unclear if the new service to Incheon will open the door for more nonstop flights to Asia, but Wyatt says he does see more international flights in Salt Lake City's future as it is linked even more closely with the world now. 'I see more Europe; I can see more South and Central America, and now we have the facilities to do it, which had always been a constraint here,' he said.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hot, dry weather persists in Utah into next week
SALT LAKE CITY () – Happy Thursday, Utah! Temperatures drop a few degrees today, but it'll still be toasty! The bottom line? Hot, dry weather persists into next week. Daytime highs will be in the upper 80s to low 90s, and upper 90s to low 100s for warm spots in southern and eastern Utah. Dry conditions are expected for today, but we can't rule out a shower or dry thunderstorm in the northern mountains and the West Desert. Dry thunderstorms can bring periods of gusty, erratic winds and cloud-to-ground lightning. Given the dry, hot, windy conditions and dry vegetation, there's a decent chance that we see an elevated fire risk. There's no end to the heat and not much moisture for the foreseeable future. On Friday, temperatures return to the mid-90s for most Utahns and triple-digits again for St. George. 90s and 100s are expected to hold on through the weekend and into the beginning of next week. A prominent high-pressure ridge is in place, which is keeping us hot and acting as a storm block. Given the hot, dry weather over the next week, it's important to stay mindful of sparks, outdoor fires, dragging chains, or anything else that could spark up a flame. We'll keep you posted on the latest updates in our 4Warn Weather forecast, both on-air and online. We are Good4Utah! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
