More than four months ago, 39-year-old Arthur “Afa” Folasa Ah Loo left behind his wife, two children and community after being killed at a “No Kings” march in Salt Lake City, where thousands attended.
His wife, Laura Ah Loo, is still demanding answers and justice.
“The sign he was peacefully holding that day read: ‘The world is watching,’ Ah Loo said in a press conference on Wednesday, backed by her legal team. ”The world is watching the action in response to the senseless and irresponsible injustice that he never deserved — and that no one ELSE deserves in the future. ... Afa always stood for those who needed justice the most, and now I stand for him, on his behalf. For his sake — and for all of us — the world is watching."
On June 16, Afa was fatally wounded by a security “peacemaker” at the event, who Ah Loo’s legal team identified as Matt Alder.
“It is somewhat incredible that four months have passed and there’s been no official action on this matter,” one of Ah Loo’s attorneys, Jim McConkie, said during the press conference.
He noted that the state of Utah has a victims’ Bill of Rights, which states that victims like Laura, “should have a speedy disposition of the entire criminal justice process,” noting that Salt Lake City has not been cooperative in sharing information regarding their investigation into Afa’s death.
Upon their request, McConkie said they were given a single piece of paper from the city regarding a permit with the name redacted.
“Does the city really expect us to believe that’s all the paperwork they have on this case? Does it not make sense? Is it not reasonable they would have investigated how the permit was obtained, who was behind the permit, when and how it was determined armed security would be present, how well trained they should be, how they should cooperate with the police, and plans when violence broke out,” McConkie said, adding that it was the only event across the nation that day, where a life was taken, emphasizing the demand for justice.
According to police, in June, two men, including Alder, who were serving as “peacekeepers” at the event, both armed with handguns, reportedly confronted Arturo Gamboa, 24, who was allegedly brandishing an AR-15 style rifle.
At least three shots were taken as they attempted to take down Gamboa, with one hitting Gamboa in the stomach and another fatally wounding Afa.
Richard Lambert, a former head of the criminal division in the United States Attorney’s Office in the state of Utah, is counsel for McConkie’s law firm and is helping with the case. Lambert told the Deseret News that, through investigation, evidence indicates that Gamboa’s rifle was not loaded and remained at his side when the peacekeepers fired shots.
“There should be criminal liability and responsibility on the part of Mr. Alder,” Lambert said. “He shouldn’t have taken that shot or shots when he did that. He wasn’t justified in doing it, and Mr. Gamboa, however unwise it was to walk in holding a rifle, under Utah law, that’s a Second Amendment right.”
“But Mr. Alder chose to take aim at about 35 to 45 feet and fire off three shots, knowing that there’s a crowd behind him,” he continued.
Though more information is still needed, Lambert said what’s most concerning is the lack of accountability in the Salt Lake district attorney’s office, headed by District Attorney Sim Gill, emphasizing that a public homicide like this should be the kind of case that is decided in “days or a few weeks,” not months.
“I know Sim Gill. I like Sim Gill,” he said, “I think he’s been a good prosecutor. That’s why I’m left just completely baffled by why this case has not proceeded.”
Gill’s office, in a statement, said, “We sympathize with the pain and loss suffered by the Ah Loo family. We met with them early in the process and explained that this review would take time. We have been open and available to any reach in from their counsel from our first meeting and continue to be. We are carefully working through a complex and nuanced legal analysis. We expect to reach a decision soon.”
During the press conference, Lambert stressed that with time, the public will forget and lose its ambitions for justice:
“One of the foundation principles of criminal justice is the old adage Justice delayed is justice denied. ... One of the concerns that those of us who are representing Laura have is that in the world that we have today, what happened yesterday or last week or last month fades from the public consciousness, and as it fades, the feeling of demand for justice and for accountability can also fade.”
McConkie said the family is hoping to get more information from the city, “and that may have to come when we file a lawsuit, which I hope will happen within the next few weeks.”