Safety volunteer charged in fatal shooting of Utah protester at 'No Kings' rally

A volunteer responsible for safety at a No Kings protest in Salt Lake City last June has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting a participant while aiming at another individual he believed posed a mass-shooting threat, authorities announced Wednesday.

According to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, Matthew Alder fired three shots during the protest. One struck a man reportedly seen assembling an AR-15 rifle near the crowd, while a third bullet accidentally killed protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, also known as Afa.

Although Alder had legal justification to defend against an imminent threat and was permitted to carry a firearm under Utah law, the third shot, fired above the crowd, was reckless and criminal, Gill stated. Our position is that this recklessness constitutes manslaughter.

Another safety volunteer present had reportedly judged it unsafe to fire, given that the rifle-wielding individual was approaching the crowd.

Ah Loo, a former Project Runway contestant and respected fashion designer who celebrated Pacific Islander artists, was remembered by his widow, Laura Ah Loo, as an extraordinary father, advocate, and creative force. She described the decision to charge Alder as moral and just and spoke of the profound grief caused by his death.

Utah law allows open carry of firearms for legal gun owners. The man seen assembling the rifle, Arturo Roberto Gamboa, was initially arrested for murder but will not face charges, prosecutors said. Officials explained there was insufficient evidence that Gamboa broke any law, despite his actions appearing alarming and reckless.

Gamboas lawyer, Greg Skordas, stated that Gamboa was walking with the rifle unloaded and pointed downward and likely did not hear warnings to put it down. Alder told investigators he fired at Gamboa because he feared for the crowds safety as Gamboa moved toward them without responding to commands to stop.

The No Kings protests took place across the United States earlier this year, opposing the policies of former President Donald Trump and citing concerns over authoritarianism and threats to democracy.

Author: Lucas Grant