Arturo Gamboa, the 24-year-old man arrested in connection with the deadly shooting that occurred during Salt Lake City's "No Kings" protest, was released from custody on Friday. A judge ordered his release under several conditions, stipulating that he reside with his father, refrain from possessing any firearms, and surrender his passport to his attorneys. The decision came after the Salt Lake County District Attorney could not decide whether to formally charge Gamboa by the set deadline, as reported by KUTV.
The incident, which took place on June 14, led to the arrest of Gamboa after a tense confrontation with armed individuals who were part of a safety volunteer team at the protest. These volunteers reported seeing Gamboa retrieve an AR-15-style weapon from a backpack. Subsequent gunfire from a volunteer struck both Gamboa and an unintended victim, Arthur "Afa" Ah Loo, who later died of his injuries. Gamboa's attorney argued that there was no substantial evidence to suggest his client committed murder, emphasizing that Gamboa's gun was reportedly unloaded and pointed at the ground when he was shot by the volunteer, as detailed by KUER.
After his release, Gamboa refrained from making public statements, yet emotional relief was apparent as he embraced his mother outside the Salt Lake County Jail. His friend, Carl Moore, shared insights about Gamboa's state of mind with FOX13, saying, "He is extremely happy that he's out. There was no anger. There's not any anger involved. But he is, he is happy." Moore expressed strong belief that the evidence would exonerate his friend, adding, "This absolutely goes against everything that he is. I mean, he is a person that stands for justice, and that's why he's there. That's why he's marched with us since 2020."
