FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2025

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PolicePIO@slc.gov

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https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

SLCPD Provides Update on Downtown Shooting Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department is providing additional details about the June 14, 2025 shooting that occurred during the “No Kings” demonstration and march in downtown Salt Lake City.

“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,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd. “When this shooting happened, the response of our officers and detectives was fast, brave, and highly coordinated. It speaks to the caliber of this great department and our law enforcement partners.”

The incident began at approximately 7:56 p.m. when a sergeant assigned to the SLCPD Motor Squad reported hearing gunfire near 151 South State Street.

The sergeant and his 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.

Officers quickly moved in to secure the scene and search for any active threats.

Officers found a man who had been shot and immediately began life-saving efforts.

Officers, and two SLCPD SWAT team members – who are Salt Lake City Fire paramedics – provided emergency care using Tactical Combat Casualty Care techniques, while being assisted by community members until the arrival of Salt Lake City Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance.

Despite those efforts, the man died at the hospital. The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.

The man is identified as Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a Utah resident.

The preliminary investigation shows Ah Loo was participating in the demonstration and appears to have been an innocent bystander who was not the intended target of the gunfire.

Around 8 p.m., officers and detectives – including members of SLCPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and Gang Unit – were flagged down near 102 South 200 East.

There, they found a man crouching among a group of people with a gunshot wound.

That 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.

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.

During interviews, detectives learned 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.

Detectives have not been able to determine, at this time, why Gamboa pulled out his rifle and began to manipulate it or why he ran from the peacekeepers when they confronted him.

The peacekeepers immediately attempted to provide aid to the injured bystander.

Detectives are still actively investigating this case, to include the actions of the peacekeepers.

Detectives have developed probable cause that Gamboa acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death and ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member.

“Our detectives are now working to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident,” Chief Redd added. “We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community.”

The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking community members to upload any photos or videos from before, during, or immediately after the incident by using this link: https://saltlakecitypd.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/june14shooting.

Media and community members are requested to share this QR code on social media and online.

Anyone who specifically witnessed the incident is asked to call 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with an officer.

The Salt Lake City Police Department would like to recognize the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, the Draper Police Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,  the Salt Lake City Emergency Management, the Salt Lake City Fire Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the South Salt Lake Police Department, the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Utah Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the West Valley City Police Department for their assistance.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The information contained in this news release is based on a preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department. As the investigation progresses, information may change.

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