Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, an innocent bystander who was shot and killed Saturday at a “No Kings” protest in Utah, is being remembered as a celebrated fashion designer who dressed the likes of “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho and cast members of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” He also committed his life to both his Pacific Islander culture and his role as a father.
Ah Loo, the 39-year-old head of fashion house Afa Ah Loo, “was not the intended target of the gunfire,” Salt Lake City police said. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, Ah Loo died at a local hospital, officials said.
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WATCH HEREIn an emotional post on social media, Cravalho said there were “no words to hold the grief of losing” Ah Loo.
“Your artistry will never be forgotten; and neither will your peaceful protest,” Cravalho said. "My deepest condolences, sympathies and Aloha to his family, and all who felt his impact.”
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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.
In a series of Instagram stories, Derrick also paid tribute to the designer, calling the late Ah Loo a “pillar in the community.”
“I already miss you Uso,” Derrick wrote, calling Ah Loo the Samoan term for “brother.”
“Thank you for blessing our lives," he wrote.
Ah Loo co-founded the nonprofit Creative Pacific, an organization that aimed to uplift Pacific Islander artists and designers. The group’s upcoming fashion showcase was slated for the end of July.
The designer’s love of creating started after he was forced to take a home economics class in high school, he told the Salt Lake City Tribune in 2019.
“The very first week, we were cooking brownies, I believe,” he told the outlet. “Instead of baking something, I fried it and I almost burned down the kitchen. It went up in flames. And the teacher was like, ‘I think cooking is not your thing. I think maybe we should switch you over to sewing.’
Outside of his work, Ah Loo devoted his time to family, often creating looks for them. He’s also dedicated his designs to his children.
“This collection is dedicated to my daughter Vera. Dedicated to her and her free spirit and love for everything and anything creative!” he wrote of a September collection.
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