Four months after her husband was fatally shot during Salt Lake City’s “No Kings” protest, Laura Ah Loo announced plans to file a lawsuit seeking accountability for his death. Standing before reporters Wednesday, she said her decision is driven by grief, determination, and the values her husband lived by.
“‘Feel the fear and do it anyway,’” Laura said, quoting her late husband, Arthur “Afa” Folasa Ah Loo, 39. “That’s what I’m doing today — standing here in the middle of heartbreak I never asked for and pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
Ah Loo was killed on June 14, 2025, during a downtown protest organized by Utah 50501. According to police, a member of the event’s volunteer safety team opened fire after confronting 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was carrying an assault-style rifle. One bullet injured Gamboa, while another fatally struck Ah Loo, a bystander participating in the march. The shooter has not been publicly identified, and police have not confirmed whether charges will be filed.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said his office is still reviewing the case but expects a decision soon. “We sympathize with the pain and loss suffered by the Ah Loo family,” Gill said, adding that the review involves “a complex and nuanced legal analysis.”
However, Laura’s attorney Jim McConkie said the family hasn’t received updates for months, despite Utah law requiring victims be kept informed of key developments. “We’ve heard nothing,” McConkie said, criticizing what he called a lack of transparency.
Another member of the legal team, Richard Lambert, a former prosecutor, questioned why the shooter has not been publicly named. “This is not a whodunit — we know who did it,” he said. “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
McConkie said the lawsuit could be filed within weeks and that defendants will be named after subpoenas are issued to uncover “what really happened.” He also accused city officials of withholding records, saying the legal team received only a single-page protest permit with the organizer’s name redacted. The Tribune later obtained an unredacted version showing the organizer as Michael Andaman, though officials said they could not confirm his identity.
Attorney Brian Stewart, also representing the family, said the lawsuit is not just about accountability but about ensuring reforms to prevent similar tragedies. “Nothing can restore Arthur to his children or his community,” he said. “But this family deserves clarity and the assurance that changes will be made.”
Laura emphasized that her husband’s message — captured on a sign he carried that day reading “the world is watching” — continues to guide her. “True responsibility means more than following the bare minimum of the law,” she said. “It means recognizing that the right to bear arms comes with the duty to ensure safety, de-escalate conflict, and prevent harm.”
Her goal, she said, is not vengeance but change. “The world is watching how we rise stronger together for responsibility, justice, and meaningful reform.”
