39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a past participant of the television show “Project Runway”, passed away on Saturday following a shooting incident at a “No Kings” protest in the city center of Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake City Police Department announced the death of Ah Loo, who they described as an “unintended victim” during the incident. In a public statement, Chief Brian Redd expressed sympathy for the family and friends of the 39-year-old man, as well as the wider community affected by this tragic event. He commended the swift, courageous, and well-coordinated actions of the responding officers and detectives when the shooting occurred.
According to the police report, Ah Loo was part of approximately 10,000 people taking part in a sanctioned protest in Salt Lake City, held to voice dissent against President Donald Trump and his policies. The demonstration took place on the president’s 79th birthday and coincided with a series of “No Kings” marches across the country. At around 7:56 p.m., a Salt Lake City Police Department sergeant reported hearing gunshots at 151 South State Street, causing a panic that resulted in hundreds of people rushing to safety by seeking shelter in parking garages and nearby businesses.
As police officers arrived at the crime scene, they discovered a man named Ah Loo who had been shot. Two of these officers, who are also part of the SLCPD SWAT team and serve as paramedics, immediately administered emergency medical attention. Unfortunately, Ah Loo succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at the hospital.
According to police and various news sources, the incident that led to gunfire involved a “security team” whose purpose was maintaining peace. Some members of this team were carrying handguns and wore bright neon green vests for visibility. Two of these security personnel allegedly noticed a questionable individual in the crowd who hid behind a wall in a concealed location. The security team stated that they observed 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was later identified, retrieve an AR-15 type firearm from his backpack.
According to SLCPD, the peacekeepers ordered Gamboa to drop his weapon, but it’s said that he picked up the rifle instead and started running towards a group of people on State Street. This action led one of the peacekeepers to fire three shots. One bullet hit Ah Loo while another struck Gamboa. The police later found Gamboa hiding among a group of individuals with a gunshot wound. He was wearing all-black clothing and a black mask, as stated by the police. Gamboa was then taken to the hospital where he was subsequently arrested for murder at the Salt Lake County metro jail.
Tributes have been flowing for Ah Loo, affectionately known as “Afa,” following his untimely demise. Leaving behind his spouse, Laura, and their two children, Vera and Isaac, a GoFundMe campaign set up after the homicide has amassed $208,000 towards its $370,000 target at the moment of writing. This initiative portrays Ah Loo as a “proud Samoan” who was rooted in his culture and community. He actively collaborated with Creative Pacific, a nonprofit organization that showcases the culture, creativity, and innovation of Pacific Islanders by organizing events that bring together designers, artists, and industry professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Utah’s representative Verona Mauga, a Democrat from Salt Lake County, shared with Utah’s KSL TV 5 that she had spent the earlier part of the night with Ah Loo at Pioneer Park. She explained, “Ah Loo was an individual who championed fairness and justice for all individuals and communities. He held the belief that everyone deserved fundamental human rights. That’s why he was there.” Mauga added, “He was among his community and those he cherished, participating in the march and rally for everything that makes our community truly exceptional.
She commended his work as a fashion designer and acknowledged his unique achievement as the first Samoan contestant on “Project Runway”. “It was significant, having someone of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent making it in the fashion world, and he’s produced outstanding designs for numerous prominent individuals.
Ah Loo, his personal brand, not only manages to sell its products but additionally provides online sewing classes and workshops as indicated on its website. The popular Moana actress, Auli’i Cravalho, showcased a unique outfit designed by Ah Loo at the world premiere of Moana 2 in November 2024. She expressed her excitement with the caption “This island girl is on cloud nine.” Furthermore, he has recently dressed attendees at the Gold House Gala held in Los Angeles.
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2025-06-16 23:54