Prosecutors charge 'safety volunteer' who shot Utah 'No Kings' protester to death as victim's family reveals security group Armed Queers SLC involvement

Matthew Alder, the “safety volunteer” accused of fatally shooting a man during a “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been charged with manslaughter, according to Salt Lake County prosecutors.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said earlier this month that Alder fired three shots while attempting to stop what he believed was a potential mass shooting. Gill said one shot struck a man who had been assembling an AR-15 style rifle near the crowd, while another inadvertently hit Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, who was participating in the protest. Gill said Alder was justified in using lethal force to stop the perceived threat, but argued that a third shot, which was fired over the heads of people at the protest, was reckless and criminal.

“In this case our argument is that the third bullet was reckless and, if it is reckless, it is manslaughter,” Gill said during a news conference.

Laura Ah Loo, the widow of the victim, spoke at a separate news conference where she praised the district attorney’s office for pursuing charges for the “negligent manslaughter” of her husband.

“For five months, there had not yet been any accountability for actions or clarity as to how such a horrific incident would be addressed, nor remorse from Matt Alder himself for taking Afa’s life from us and from the world,” she said. “Today’s charges represent a significant first step in the right direction and establish a precedent that I hope will lead to a safer environment at public gatherings in the future. No one else should have to go through what I have experienced in the future.”

Arturo Roberto Gamboa, the man who was seen assembling a rifle near the crowd, was initially arrested on suspicion of murder. Gill said prosecutors will not file charges against Gamboa, stating there was not enough evidence to show he had broken the law, despite the fact that his actions would “reasonably be perceived as alarming and irresponsible.”

Alder was volunteering as a “peacekeeper” at the event and was part of a safety team for the protest. An attorney for the victim’s family said the groups involved in providing security included 50501 and Armed Queers SLC, and said Alder is believed to be associated with that group. The attorney alleged that the groups involved have “intentionally obfuscated” information about their leadership and operations, used pseudonyms, and have not been cooperative in explaining their role. He said a planned civil lawsuit against Alder would allow the family to conduct a more thorough investigation into the shooting.