United States: A man aligned with a voluntary protest peacekeeping squad, clad in a fluorescent green vest, discharged three bullets from a sidearm during the fervent “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City. His target was Arturo Gamboa, 24, who had menaced the crowd with a rifle. Tragically, the volley also struck Arthur Folasa Ah Loo—a beloved designer from Samoa—who later succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

Gamboa was apprehended that evening and faces a homicide charge, according to Police Chief Brian Redd. Authorities remain uncertain about Gamboa’s motives or why he distanced himself from the crowd and peacekeepers before arming himself. Detectives hold him accountable for setting off the deadly chain of events that ended Ah Loo’s life.

Ah Loo, known affectionately as “Afa,” was not just a father and spouse but a cultural artisan. His label, Creative Pacific, gave voice to Polynesian artistry through workshops and fashion showcases. He had also gained recognition on Season 17 of Project Runway, according to AP News.

According to Sarah Parker of the 50501 Movement—co-organizers of the protest—volunteer safety teams are typically unarmed and instructed not to carry firearms. Still, she affirmed that their actions may have prevented mass carnage. “Our safety crew did everything within mortal reach during a heart-wrenching moment,” she stated.

Gunfire Sends Crowd Scattering

The eruption of bullets triggered widespread pandemonium. Protesters sprinted for cover, ducking behind structures and dashing into shops and garages. Social media captured fragments of the horror, including someone urgently shouting, “That’s a gun. Come on, come on, get out!”

The protest, part of a sweeping national wave opposing what demonstrators view as the heavy-handed behavior of President Donald Trump, largely remained peaceful elsewhere. However, isolated eruptions of violence were reported. In Riverside, California, a protestor was mowed down by an SUV driver who then fled the scene. The victim, though seriously hurt, is stable.

Meanwhile, in Phoenix, tensions escalated as a masked individual brandished a firearm following heated verbal jousting with marchers near the Arizona Capitol. State troopers swiftly detained the man.

Sequence of Salt Lake Incident

The pivotal moment unfolded when Gamboa detached himself from the procession and concealed himself behind a structure near 8 p.m., reportedly retrieving an AR-15-style rifle. Two individuals wearing neon vests noticed his actions and approached him with their own handguns readied, as reported by AP News.

Redd explained that witnesses saw Gamboa raise his weapon in a combative posture and begin moving toward the throng. In response, one vest-wearing peacekeeper unleashed three shots, striking both Gamboa and Ah Loo.

Gamboa, who lacks any prior criminal footprint, was treated for his injuries and then incarcerated. Investigators also seized a gas mask and a backpack near the scene.

Police emphasized that the conduct of the peacekeepers, too, remains under scrutiny.