A man who was shot and killed Saturday at a “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been identified as Samoan fashion designer and former Project Runway contestant Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, prompting fans around the country to share their condolences.
The 39-year-old head of the Afa Ah Loo fashion house died at a local hospital shortly after peacekeepers fired on a man who had brandished a rifle at protesters during the protest; officials detained two men who were part of the event's "peacekeeping team" after one of the "peacekeepers" allegedly fired the shot that injured and ultimately killed Ah Loo.
Police said self-described "peacekeepers" reported seeing 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa break away from a crowd and brandish what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle. In response, they drew their weapons and ordered him to drop it. Instead, Gamboa ran back into the crowd, holding the rifle in what authorities described as a "firing position." One of the peacekeepers then fired three shots—one striking Gamboa and another hitting Ah Loo.
While Gamboa did not fire the shot that fatally struck Ah Loo, authorities charged him with murder due to "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 news has struck fans of Project Runway hard.
Ah Loo was a celebrated designer known for creations honoring his Pacific Islander heritage. While he gained national exposure with a brief appearance on the show in 2019, his work had long resonated within the Polynesian community. In the years since, he dressed several prominent figures, including Moana star Auli’i Cravalho and Moana 2 co-director David Derrick Jr.
After his tragic death, Cravalho shared a poignant tribute to Ah Loo on Instagram, writing:
"Your artistry will never be forgotten; and neither will your peaceful protest."
Ah Loo was also a co-founder of Creative Pacific, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Pacific Islander artists and designers. The organization had been preparing for a fashion showcase scheduled for late July. Ah Loo was also a dedicated family man who often dedicated his designs to his two children.
People across social media offered their condolences.
The protest at which Ah Loo was killed was one of the many "No Kings" protests against the Trump administration across the country following President Donald Trump's decision to send the National Guard and Marines into Los Angeles to curb demonstrations there.
Ah Loo was among the estimated 10,000 participants at the Salt Lake protest, which was also a response to the military parade to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary that also coincided with Trump's 79th birthday.
A GoFundMe organized in the wake of Ah Loo's murder has raised nearly $370,000 as of this writing. The funds, according to the webpage, will help Ah Loo's widow Laura "with funeral expenses and to ease the immediate financial burdens she now faces."
