Crime
Arthur Folasa Ah Loo killed in shooting at Salt Lake ‘No Kings Day’ event, suspect Arturo Gamboa arrested
Salt Lake City, UT — A protest in downtown Salt Lake City turned deadly Saturday evening when a designated private peacekeeper opened fire after confronting an armed individual, unintentionally killing a bystander.
The suspect, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, a Utah resident with no prior criminal history, has been arrested and charged with murder.
According to Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd, the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. near 100 South and 200 East during a “No Kings Day” demonstration.
Officers from the department’s Motor Squad were on duty nearby when they heard gunfire. Responding officers arrived on the scene and found 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo lying on the ground with a gunshot wound.
Despite emergency aid from SWAT medics and paramedics, Ah Loo was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities say the situation escalated when Gamboa, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, was observed by two individuals believed to be private armed security assigned to monitor the protest.
Witnesses reported that Gamboa had separated himself from the crowd and concealed himself briefly behind a wall before emerging with the weapon.
Gamboa then raised the rifle into a firing position and began moving toward the crowd.
One of the peacekeepers, fearing an imminent threat, fired three rounds from a handgun.
One round struck Gamboa in the left side of his abdomen, and another tragically hit Ah Loo, an uninvolved and peaceful protest participant.
Gamboa, though wounded, attempted to flee by blending back into the crowd. Bystanders quickly pointed him out to police officers, who arrested him without further incident.
During his apprehension, officers recovered the AR-15-style rifle, a gas mask, and a backpack in Gamboa’s possession.
Investigators later confirmed that Gamboa never fired his weapon.
All shots were discharged by the security personnel. However, under Utah law — consistent with legal principles in many jurisdictions — an individual can be charged with murder if their criminal actions create circumstances that directly result in someone’s death.
Salt Lake City Police are actively working with the District Attorney’s Office to review the case and determine if further charges will be pursued.
The police department has not commented on whether prior tips about a man carrying an assault-style weapon inside a local Maverik convenience store, as mentioned in witness Facebook videos, are substantiated.
The incident remains under thorough investigation.
Authorities have asked anyone with video or information related to the shooting to contact law enforcement.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.