‘Peacekeeping’ goes sideways as Salt Lake City No Kings protest turns deadly for innocent bystander

A peaceful “No Kings” protest in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 15, 2025, took a tragic turn when an innocent bystander, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot and killed during a confrontation involving a suspected armed man and a civilian “peacekeeping team.”

The sudden violence disrupted the demonstration, leading to the death of a well-loved community member and sparking an ongoing police investigation into this possible crime and chaotic series of events.

The protest was part of a nationwide wave of “No Kings” demonstrations organized in opposition to President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington. A large crowd had gathered, but as the evening continued, the situation changed dramatically. As reported by NBC, at around 7:56 PM, a police detective nearby reported hearing gunshots. The sound of gunfire immediately shifted the mood from protest to emergency, forcing law enforcement to clear the area and search for the source of the shooting.

Early police reports describe the incident as starting when Arturo Gamboa, a 24-year-old man, stepped away from the main group of protestors. He moved behind a wall, out of sight of most people, and began handling an AR-15-style rifle. According to CNN, this alarming behavior was noticed by members of the protest’s volunteer “peacekeeping team,” who were wearing bright neon green vests and carrying handguns. They approached Gamboa, drew their own weapons, and ordered him to drop the rifle.

Man with rifle causes another to get shot during No Kings protests

Instead of following their commands, Gamboa made a choice that made the situation even more dangerous. He reportedly ran back into the packed crowd of protestors while holding the AR-15-style rifle in what witnesses described as a “ready-to-fire position.” Faced with an armed man moving toward unarmed demonstrators, the peacekeepers opened fire. One of them fired three shots from a handgun, aiming at Gamboa as he moved into the crowd.

The results were immediate and tragic. One bullet struck Gamboa, causing a minor injury. However, another bullet hit Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old Utah resident who had been watching the protest as an uninvolved bystander. He was not the intended target of the gunfire. As police worked to secure the scene and locate the source of the shooting, they found Ah Loo wounded. Emergency responders quickly tried to help him before rushing him to a hospital in an ambulance.

Despite their efforts, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo later died from his injuries. The state medical examiner’s office will determine the exact cause and manner of his death. Minutes after the first gunshots, police found Gamboa hiding among a group of people, suffering from a gunshot wound. Nearby, officers recovered an AR-15-style rifle, a gas mask, black clothing, and a backpack.

After receiving medical treatment, Gamboa was arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail, where he was charged with murder. Authorities argue that even though Gamboa did not fire the shot that killed Ah Loo, his actions showed a “reckless disregard for human life,” creating a situation that led to an innocent person’s death. Police records show Gamboa had no previous criminal history.

The “peacekeeping team” involved in the shooting were volunteers, not law enforcement officers. They wore bright neon green vests and carried handguns, but organizers of the “No Kings” protest had asked all attendees, including peacekeepers, not to bring weapons. Police are now carefully reviewing the peacekeepers’ actions, and it is unclear whether they will face charges, as their role in the escalation is still under investigation.