‘Peacekeeper’ who fired shots at SLC protest was volunteer, military veteran, organizers say
Jun 17, 2025, 12:17 PM
People begin running as police tackle a man after reports of an active shooter during the “No Kings” protest and march in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — After a man was shot and killed during a “No Kings” protest in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, another man was booked into jail on a murder charge. In the aftermath, many have questioned how the circumstances could come to justice, given the fact that the shots were fired by someone else.
The man who was arrested on Saturday, Arturo Gamboa, 24, was the initial target of the gunshots, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department. Based on witness statements, two men who were a part of the event organizers’ “peace-keeping team” saw Gamboa pull out a rifle and begin “manipulating it.”
One of the peacekeepers fired shots at Gamboa, with one bullet grazing Gamboa’s side, and another hitting a peaceful protestor in the crowd, Afa Ah Loo, 39, according to police. Other members of the “peace-keeping team” began trying to save Ah Loo’s life, and he was rushed to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Police swarm a man after a reported shooting during the “No Kings” protest and march in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)
On Tuesday, the event organizers, Utah 50501, said in a statement to KSL TV that the person who fired the shots was a safety volunteer and a military veteran.
“Our team of safety volunteers, who have been selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience, believed that there was an imminent threat to protestors and took action,” the statement said.
Previously, SLCPD had said the two “peacekeepers” were not “current or former members of law enforcement.” When asked on Tuesday whether the department could confirm a military background, it said it would not be releasing any additional information about the individuals involved, citing the pending investigation.
“It remains unclear whether these individuals were hired by or volunteered for the event organizers, or acted on their own initiative,” SLCPD said Monday.
SLCPD continued — there was no record in the event’s permit for organized or armed security, although it was aware that people would be acting in “support roles.” Regardless of their role specified by event organizers, the department considered those people as any other member of the public who would be subject to the same gun laws as anyone else.
The two members of the “peace-keeping team” who initially observed Gamboa were taken into custody, questioned and later released. Upon request, SLCPD told KSL TV on Tuesday it could not confirm “any additional information about the individuals involved.”
Gamboa faces a recommended murder charge, but had not been officially charged in court as of Tuesday.
SLCPD said its homicide detectives were still working to evaluate the individual actions of all involved.
“Our detectives are focused on determining the full sequence of events and whether the use of deadly force was lawful under Utah state law,” SLCPD said.
The department requested anyone with videos or photos of “the moments leading up to, during or immediately after” the shooting submit them to its investigators through an online submission portal.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include a Tuesday response from SLCPD.
