Project Runway contestant Arthur Folasa “Afa” Ah Loo has been identified as a victim of a fatal shooting during the Salt Lake City “No Kings” march. He was 39.
The Salt Lake Police Department described Loo as an “innocent bystander” during the Saturday, June 14, incident in a press release. The outlet reported that after officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot and began treating him.
Loo — who appeared on season 17 of Project Runway in 2019, finishing in 13th place — later died at an unidentified hospital. His cause of death has not been released by the Salt Lake City medical examiner’s office.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
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The preliminary investigation conducted by authorities concluded that Loo was “not the intended target” and had been struck by an alleged peacekeeper. The peacekeepers allegedly saw alleged shooter Arturo Gamboa move away from the crowd and take out a firearm from a backpack. The peacekeepers ordered Gamboa, 24, to drop his weapon but he instead lifted the firearm and ran through the crowd — leading the peacekeeper to fire shots, one of which hit 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 statement read. “The peacekeepers immediately attempted to provide aid to the injured bystander.”
Redd noted that the investigation is ongoing. “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,” the statement read.
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The statement continued, “Our detectives are now working to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community.”
The incident occurred at one of several “No Kings” protests held on Saturday in opposition of President Donald Trump and his administration.
Loo is survived by wife Laura and their two children.
