One year after Arthur 'Afa' Ah Loo was shot and killed while attending a 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City, his family continues to seek justice through a wrongful death lawsuit filed in the Third Judicial District Court of Utah (Civil Case No. 26-0901794). The suit names event organizers, Salt Lake City law enforcement, and the city as defendants, alleging negligence and failure to prevent the tragedy.
According to the complaint, Ah Loo was recording the protest on June 14, 2025, when an armed 'peacekeeper' organized by the Utah 50501 chapter fired shots at an individual legally open-carrying a rifle. One of the three bullets struck Ah Loo in the head, causing his death. The protest's organizers had encouraged armed volunteers to maintain order, which the family's attorneys argue created a foreseeable risk of violence.
'This tragedy was foreseeable and preventable,' said Jim McConkie of Parker & McConkie, the law firm representing the Ah Loo family. 'The organizers created the conditions for it and must be held accountable.'
Ah Loo's death was recently highlighted in The New York Times, which detailed how rogue decision-making by armed individuals can lead to tragic outcomes. The family's lawsuit seeks damages for economic losses to Laura Ah Loo and the couple's children, medical and funeral expenses, and general damages for lost affection and companionship.
Additional case information and resources, including photos, video, and pleadings, can be found at Parker & McConkie's blog.
The case underscores ongoing debates about public safety at protests and the role of armed civilians in crowd management. The Ah Loo family hopes the lawsuit will bring accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
