A Salt Lake City man who sparked a deadly confrontation at a summer protest spoke publicly for the first time Tuesday, defending his actions while acknowledging the tragedy that left a bystander dead after security personnel mistook him for an active shooter.
Arturo Gamboa held an hour-long press conference following the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office decision not to file charges against him stemming from the June 14 incident at the No Kings protest. The shooting claimed the life of fashion designer Afa Ah Loo after volunteer security member Matthew Alder fired three shots in Gamboa’s direction.
Gamboa Defends Constitutional Rights
Speaking alongside attorney Greg Skordas, Gamboa maintained he was simply exercising his First and Second Amendment rights when he arrived at the downtown Salt Lake City demonstration carrying an AR-15 rifle. He emphasized that he has attended numerous similar events in the past without incident.
“I did not fire a single shot. I did not have any ammunition in the rifle,” Gamboa explained during the press conference. “However, the blame was placed squarely on my shoulders.”
Gamboa described feeling vilified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, despite not discharging his weapon or having ammunition loaded. Police apprehended him moments after the fatal shot, and he spent nearly a week in custody before prosecutors declined to file charges as their filing deadline approached.
“From the moment that everything happened, I was treated as a psychopathic villain,” Gamboa stated, expressing frustration with how authorities and the public initially portrayed his role in the tragedy.
The man defended his broader philosophy regarding constitutional rights, arguing they apply universally regardless of political affiliation or personal characteristics.
“I believe that it is the right of every person, without restriction, to utilize their constitutional rights, and the Second Amendment right is not a right that is restricted to any particular political ideology, any particular viewpoint, any particular race, ethnicity, creed, gender,” he said.
Events Leading to Fatal Shooting
The June 14 incident unfolded when volunteer security personnel at the No Kings protest observed Gamboa’s behavior and became concerned about potential mass violence. According to charging documents filed against Alder, witnesses reported seeing Gamboa position himself behind a column while appearing to assemble portions of his disassembled AR-15.
One security team member told investigators that while he understood Utah’s open carry laws generally permit visible firearms, Gamboa’s actions seemed different because he was “assembling [the rifle] under cover” rather than openly displaying an already-assembled weapon.
The witness called out “gun, gun, gun” over radio communications as Gamboa moved toward State Street. Security personnel believed they were witnessing preparation for a mass shooting event based on his movements and behavior.
“[I] should have dropped him,” the unidentified security team member told police regarding Gamboa, but added he lacked a clear shot and explained “there’s no way I can shoot [Gamboa] when he’s running toward a crowd.”
Matthew Alder, facing manslaughter charges for firing the fatal shot, later told detectives he believed Gamboa appeared to be “psyching himself up” and looked to be in “combat mode” before the shooting.
“Oh, my God, this is happening, this is really bad, somebody’s going to get hurt,” Alder recalled thinking at the time, according to police interviews conducted days after the incident.
Alder fired his 9mm handgun three times toward Gamboa. One bullet struck and killed Ah Loo, an innocent bystander who had no involvement in the confrontation between Gamboa and security personnel.
Investigation Findings and Charging Decision
Detectives investigating the shooting discovered Gamboa was carrying the disassembled AR-15, three loaded magazines and a knife when apprehended. Despite this evidence, prosecutors determined the facts did not support criminal charges against him.
Last week, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced manslaughter charges against Alder while simultaneously confirming no charges would be filed against Gamboa. The decision effectively ended the legal jeopardy Gamboa faced following his arrest.
The charging decision reflected prosecutors’ assessment that while Gamboa’s presence with a rifle created the circumstances leading to the shooting, his actions did not constitute criminal conduct under Utah law. The state’s permissive open carry statutes allow individuals to possess firearms in public spaces, even at demonstrations.
Emotional Toll and Looking Forward
During Tuesday’s press conference, Gamboa addressed the psychological burden of being initially blamed for Ah Loo’s death despite not firing his weapon.
“To have to hold on your shoulders the weight of a false narrative of the psychopathic shooter who had intentions of mag dumping into a crowd. Who had intentions of doing something,” Gamboa said. “With the loss of life, with the loss of soul, of a human being. And you know you didn’t do it… I believe in many ways, it is indescribable.”
When asked whether he would attend future large rallies while armed with a rifle, Gamboa provided a cautious response that suggested reflection on the incident’s consequences.
“I believe that the conditions would need to be correct in order for that to be a possibility,” he answered, declining to commit definitively either way.
Gamboa revealed he has not yet contacted Ah Loo’s family, choosing to respect their privacy during their grieving process. However, he expressed hope that a meeting could be arranged soon to discuss the tragedy and its aftermath.
Potential Civil Litigation
Attorney Skordas disclosed that Gamboa incurred five-figure medical debt treating injuries he suffered during the incident, though he did not detail the nature of those injuries. Despite potential grounds for legal action, Gamboa plans to delay any civil lawsuit until Ah Loo’s family has pursued their own potential claims for damages.
The decision reflects recognition that Ah Loo’s family experienced the most devastating loss from the June 14 shooting. Any financial recovery Gamboa might seek through litigation would be secondary to addressing the harm suffered by the fashion designer’s survivors.
Alder faces manslaughter charges that could result in significant prison time if convicted. His case raises complex questions about when security personnel at protests may legally use deadly force and what standard of threat assessment applies in rapidly developing situations.
Broader Questions About Protest Safety
The No Kings protest shooting highlighted tensions between constitutional rights, public safety concerns, and the role of volunteer security at demonstrations. The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened sensitivity about mass shootings and increasing political polarization.
Utah’s permissive gun laws allow open carry of firearms without permits in most public spaces. However, the Gamboa case illustrates how exercising that right in certain contexts can trigger lethal responses from individuals who perceive imminent threats.
The tragedy raises questions about training and protocols for volunteer security personnel at protests, particularly regarding threat assessment and use of force decisions. Unlike law enforcement officers who receive extensive training in these areas, volunteer security teams may lack comparable preparation for high-pressure situations.
As the criminal case against Alder proceeds through the justice system, the broader community continues grappling with how to balance constitutional rights with legitimate safety concerns at public demonstrations where emotions run high and multiple armed individuals may be present.
