Asger Risom
A shooting at a peaceful protest in Salt Lake City turned deadly—but swift action by volunteer security may have prevented a massacre.
Gun violence has become a chilling norm in the United States, with mass shootings turning public spaces into sites of sudden terror. From schools and shopping malls to places of worship and protest grounds, no setting seems immune.
As gun violence remains a defining crisis in the United States.
Mass shootings, armed confrontations, and deadly misunderstandings have become disturbingly routine. In such moments, the line between chaos and containment can be incredibly thin — and sometimes, it’s not authorities but everyday people who hold it.
Protest turns deadly amid gunfire
A peaceful protest in Salt Lake City turned deadly Saturday evening when a gunman approached demonstrators with an AR-15-style rifle, triggering panic and tragedy, but it was a sharp-eyed bystander, not official security, who helped bring the suspect down.
Armed confrontation leads to fatal mistake
The protest, part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement opposing the Trump administration, was shaken when two armed peacekeepers confronted 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa.
Police say he had separated from the crowd and was seen handling a rifle behind a wall. As Gamboa moved toward the protestors in a “firing position,” one of the peacekeepers opened fire, injuring both Gamboa and a bystander, 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, who later died at the hospital.
Civilian steps in to stop suspect
But while peacekeepers inadvertently caused collateral death, it was a regular civilian who ultimately helped end the threat.
According to eyewitness accounts and video evidence, Gamboa, after being wounded, attempted to blend back into the crowd.
That’s when an unnamed bystander noticed the suspicious bag and behavior. Acting without hesitation, the civilian moved in, removed the weapon-laden backpack, and flagged down authorities.
Officers quickly arrested Gamboa, who remains in custody facing a murder charge.
Police investigate motive as public reacts
Footage from the scene shows the tense moment police apprehend the suspect, led away shirtless and handcuffed. The AR-style rifle and a gas mask were recovered at the scene, as reported by New York Times.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd emphasized that Gamboa never fired his weapon, but his conduct showed “a depraved indifference to human life.” The motivations behind his actions remain under investigation.
Meanwhile, the civilian’s intervention highlights how, in moments of chaos, ordinary people can step forward in extraordinary ways. “They made all the difference,” said one witness.