Crime
Renowned Samoan Fashion Designer Arthur Folasa Ah Loo Fatally Shot at Salt Lake City ‘No Kings Day’ Protest
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Beloved Samoan fashion designer Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, widely known as Afa Ah Loo, was tragically killed during a shooting incident at the “No Kings Day” protest in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday evening. He was 39 years old.
Ah Loo, celebrated for his cultural pride and design talent, was a peaceful participant in the protest when he was unintentionally struck by gunfire.
According to Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. near 100 South and 200 East, where officers heard gunshots and quickly responded.
Upon arrival, they found Ah Loo with a gunshot wound. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by SWAT medics and emergency responders, he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators stated that the suspect, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, had been observed by two individuals believed to be designated protest peacekeepers.
The men reported seeing Gamboa separate himself from the crowd, move behind a wall, and produce an AR-15-style rifle. Police said Gamboa raised the weapon into a firing position and began moving toward the protest crowd.
In response, one of the peacekeepers fired three shots from a handgun, striking both Gamboa and Ah Loo. Gamboa sustained a non-life-threatening wound to his abdomen and attempted to hide among the crowd.
Witnesses helped officers locate him, and he was taken into custody. Police recovered his firearm, a gas mask, and a backpack at the scene.
Gamboa was later booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a charge of murder, with further charges under review.
Chief Redd confirmed that all shots were fired by the peacekeeper and that Gamboa did not discharge his weapon.
Afa Ah Loo was more than a talented designer; he was a voice of inspiration within the Polynesian community.
In his own words, Ah Loo once shared:
“Being Polynesian I think it’s all I know and who I see myself as. As a true Samoan man whose ancestors have worked hard and paved the way for me to be here… I was adopted and raised by my grandparents (who I call my parents) who were very, very poor, but my parents taught me the value of hard work and perseverance… My advice is to feel the fear and do it anyway. And it’s okay to put yourself first… because there is only one you.”
Salt Lake City police, in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, continue to investigate the incident to determine whether any additional charges or legal actions will be pursued.
The community now mourns the loss of a cultural icon whose legacy of creativity, identity, and resilience left a lasting imprint.
Crime
Security guard Yahaira Melendez charged with murder after shooting inside IHOP restaurant in Center City Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A security guard has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a Center City IHOP over the weekend that left a 43-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the IHOP located in the 1300 block of Walnut Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who police say was unhoused, was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators report that the victim had been causing a disturbance inside the restaurant prior to the shooting. As security personnel escorted him outside, he allegedly turned and spat on one of the guards.
That guard, identified as 38-year-old Yahaira Melendez, allegedly responded by drawing her firearm and shooting the victim once in the head.
Police say preliminary findings indicate the victim was not armed at the time of the incident.
Melendez, a mother of three, was taken into custody and has been charged with murder and related offenses.
In a statement Melendez’s family expressed shock and disbelief over the situation, writing in part:
“We are shocked and devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the IHOP while she was working security. We know she would never harm anyone unless she felt she had no other choice to protect herself or others.”
The shooting has left nearby workers and residents shaken.
“Escalation — where was the escalation?” asked Karr Anderson, who works next door to the restaurant. “Security guards need to know how to withhold, how to show restraint.”
Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether proper security protocols were followed and what led to the use of deadly force.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.