Officials said that two men who were part of the event’s “peacekeeping team” were detained Saturday after one of the “peacekeepers” allegedly fired the shot that fatally injured Ah Loo. Arturo Gamboa, 24, was also arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a murder charge.
The “peacekeepers” told police that they saw Gamboa move away from the crowd and begin manipulating an AR-15-style rifle. It prompted them to draw their guns and order him to drop the weapon, police said. However, Gamboa ran into the crowd, holding his gun in a “firing position,” leading one of the “peacekeepers” to fire three shots. One of the shots struck Gamboa while the other hit Ah Loo, police said.
Ah Loo, who grew up in Samoa, was best known for his vibrant creations showcasing his Pacific Islander culture. The designer, whose work has long been celebrated in the Polynesian community, drew more mainstream attention after he appeared on the competition reality show “Project Runway” in 2019. While Ah Loo exited the show within the first few episodes of the season, his designs were received with critical acclaim and in the years following, he dressed many high-profile Pacific Islanders including Cravalho and David Derrick Jr, co-director of “Moana 2.”
In her social media post, Cravalho said that Ah Loo was behind the designs she wore for the world premiere of “Moana 2” in November, which she called “the most significant event of my career.”
“As a Samoan fashion designer, Afa’s creations are and remain thoughtful, elegant and powerful portrayals of Pacific culture,” she wrote.
