Former ‘Project Runway’ Designer Arthur Folasa Ah Loo Identified as Fatal Victim in Shooting at ‘No Kings’ March in Salt Lake City

Man shot, killed during Salt Lake City protest was beloved fashion designer.

via: EW

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a fashion designer and former contestant on Project Runway, has been identified as the bystander shot and killed during the "No Kings" protest in Utah over the weekend.

Ah Loo, also known as "Afa" by loved ones, was participating in the protest in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday when he was unwittingly caught in the line of fire, the Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed. He was 39.

According to authorities, armed peacekeepers in neon green vests drew their guns at a man who has since been identified as Arturo Gamboa, 24, after they witnessed him retrieve an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack. When they ordered Gamboa to drop the weapon, he "instead lifted the rifle and began running toward the crowd gathered on State Street, holding the weapon in a firing position," per the police.

One of the peacekeepers fired three rounds as a result, injuring Gamboa and fatally striking Ah Loo, who died at the hospital. Authorities booked Gamboa, who was dressed in all black and wore a black mask, into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of murder.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said in a statement that detectives are working to "thoroughly investigate" the incident, adding, "We will not allow this individual act to create fear in our community.”

The protest was one of many "No Kings "demonstrations held nationwide (and even around the globe from countries expressing solidarity) to oppose policies from President Donald Trump's administration, including his most recent unlawful immigration raids that led to weeks-long protests in Los Angeles.

Ah Loo was a Samoan fashion designer who appeared on season 17 of Project Runway back in 2019. A self-taught designer known for his clean and classic looks, he finished in 13th place during the season that featured Karlie Kloss and Christian Siriano as judges.

In 2018, Ah Loo was chosen to create a bespoke look for the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, an initiative for emerging fashion stars, and it was displayed at Buckingham Palace. Also a co-founder of Creative Pacific, a nonprofit that champions the Pacific Islands in the arts, Ah Loo recently dressed Auliʻi Cravalho for the Hawaiian premiere of Moana in 2024.