Salt Lake City Police believe that man fatally shot the “King No” protest was innocent bystanders
Authorities said on Sunday that a member of a peacekeeping team believed to be part of a “King-free” protest in Salt Lake City, wielding rifles at a protester, strikes rifle soldiers and bystanders who later die in the hospital.
Salt Lake City Police Commissioner Brian Redd said in a press conference on Sunday that police would detain alleged rifleman Arturo Gamboa on Saturday night.
The bystander is Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a fashion designer from Samoa.
“Our detectives think he is an innocent bystander,” the police department said in a social media post.
Detectives don't know yet why Gamboa pulled out the AR-15-style rifle they described, or why he ran out of peacekeeping personnel, but they accused him of causing a dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo's death. The Associated Press did not immediately find the attorney for Gamboa or the contact information provided to his family in public records.
Reid said the man, believed to be part of the peacekeeping team, wore a neon green vest and fired three shots on a Ganbaoa pistol, causing a relatively minor injury but shot Allu deadly. Red did not share the man's name.
Police are still investigating who fires the shot
Sarah Parker, the national coordinator for the 50501 campaign, said the volunteer peace team was common for protests, which was a partner in the “King No” protest. But organizers asked attendees, including peacekeepers, not to bring weapons, she said. However, Parker said they blocked what could be a larger mass casualty incident.
“In extremely sad and extremely horrifying situations, our security team does the best possible,” Parker said.
According to the GoFundMe page to support a family, Ah Loo, known as AFA, is the husband and father of two children and leans over his Samoan heritage. Ah Loo founded Creative Pacific, an event to celebrate the diversity of Pacific islands, which includes workshops, artists and fashion runways. He participated in the 17th season of the fashion design reality TV show Project runway.
Police said in a statement that the shooting caused hundreds of protesters to run, some hiding behind obstacles, and fleeing to parking lots and nearby businesses.
“That's a gun. Come on, come on, go out.” In the video posted to social media, someone said that the incident seemed to be shown.
The protests of “No King” swept the United States on Saturday, with organizers saying thousands of people opposed what they call President Donald Trump’s authoritarian tendencies.
The shooter and another neon vest allegedly separated Gambauer from the parades in the city center of Salt Lake, moved behind the walls and evacuated the rifle around 8 p.m., Reid said.
When the two men in vests faced Ganbaoa with pistols, witnesses said Ganbaoa carried the rifle to the shooting position and crashed into the crowd.
Reid said it was a man in a vest hitting three rounds, hitting Ganbaoya and Ao. Police say Gamboya, who has no criminal history, was injured and treated before being booked to jail.
Reid said the peacekeepers' actions were also part of the investigation.
Police said they restored the AR-15-style rifle, gas mask and backpack at the scene.
