"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the 39-year-old man who was killed."
www.abc.net.au
'Innocent bystander': Iconic Samoan fashion designer Afa Ah Loo fatally shot at 'No Kings' protest
RNZ & ABC Pacific
Posted 1h ago1 hours ago
Afa Ah Loo was born and raised in Lotopa and Falelima, Samoa – where he was first introduced to fashion through his mother.(Source: Instagram/laura.ahloo)
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Renowned Samoan fashion designer Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, known as Afa Ah Loo, was fatally shot at the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has confirmed.
Mr Ah Loo, an "innocent bystander" at the protest, died despite efforts by paramedics to save his life, police said.
Mt Ah Loo, a Utah resident, tragically died at the hospital, now The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of his death.
The SLPCD said the incident began at approximately 7:56pm local time when a sergeant assigned to the SLCPD Motor Squad reported hearing gunfire near 151 South State Street.
It said the sergeant and squad were working to facilitate traffic and help to ensure public safety during a permitted demonstration that drew an estimated 10,000 participants.
"As panic spread throughout the area, hundreds of people ran for safety, hiding in parking garages, behind barriers, and going into nearby businesses.
"The first officers on scene notified SLCPD's incident management team using their police radios."
The SLCPD said officers quickly moved in to secure the scene and search for any active threats and found a man who had been shot and immediately began life-saving efforts.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the 39-year-old man who was killed, and with the many community members who were impacted by this traumatic incident," Salt Lake City police chief Brian Redd said.
"When this shooting happened, the response of our officers and detectives was fast, brave, and highly coordinated. It speaks to the calibre of this great department and our law enforcement partners."
"No Kings" protests swept across the US on Saturday, with organisers saying millions had turned out and rallied against what they describe as President Donald Trump's authoritarian excesses.
Detectives working to thoroughly investigate
The SLCPD said at around 8pm, members of its Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and Gang Unit were flagged down near 102 South 200 East, where officers found a man crouching among a group of people with a gunshot wound.
The man is identified as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was dressed in all black clothing and wearing a black mask.
"As officers approached, community members pointed out a nearby firearm, which was described as an AR-15-style rifle.
"Officers also located a gas mask, black clothing, and a backpack in close proximity. The items were collected and processed by the SLCPD Crime Lab.
"Paramedics took Gamboa to the hospital. Detectives later booked Gamboa into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a charge of murder.
Police said officers also detained two men who were wearing high-visibility neon green vests and carrying handguns.
These men were apparently part of the event's peacekeeping team.
According to the police, detectives learned during interviews that the two peacekeepers saw Gamboa move away from the crowd and move into a secluded area behind a wall — behavior they found suspicious.
"One of the peacekeepers told detectives he saw Gamboa pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack and begin manipulating it.
"The peacekeepers drew their firearms and ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon.
"Witnesses reported Gamboa instead lifted the rifle and began running toward the crowd gathered on State Street, holding the weapon in a firing position.
"In response, one of the peacekeepers fired three rounds.One round struck Gamboa, while another tragically wounded Mr Ah Loo."
"Our detectives are now working to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident," Redd said.
"We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community."
Mr Ah Loo's first fashion project was creating a Sunday dress for his sister.(Source: Instagram/afa.ahloo)
'It's our time': Introduced to fashion by his Mum
Afa Ah Loo was born and raised in Lotopa and Falelima, Samoa — where he was first introduced to fashion through his mother.
In his bio on Bravo Television, Mr Ah Loo's first fashion project was creating a Sunday dress for his sister.
Mr Afa Ah Loo garnered international attention though when he was the first Samoan to appear on US Project Runway in 2019, then made his second appearance on Project Runway Redemption.
"I'm proud that I set goals and accomplished them. We really had very little growing up," he told Slug Mag in 2020.
Before his international success Mr Afa Ah Loo won Samoa Idol in 2010, then five years later, two of his pieces featured at the Miss World 2015 Pageant in Sanya, China.
His success has reached many corners of the Pasifika community, from Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa to Miss Pacific Islands queens, Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke and Latafale Auva'a.
Papua New Guinea's Post Courier reports Mr Afa Ah Loo created couture for cast members of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City too.
The self-taught artist was also personally invited by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to present his collection at Buckingham Palace during London Fashion Week.
"The one thing I want to say to young Polynesian and other creatives is that these big fashion brands are pulling from Polynesian culture and from Latin culture," Mr Ah Loo told Slug Mag.
"It is our time to benefit from our culture and stop giving other people that power. That is one of the most beautiful things about being Samoan and Polynesian—our culture is so rich and full. We have so much to give."
RNZ/ABC Pacific
