Protester shot and killed at Utah rally was former ‘Project Runway’ designer

Salt Lake City protest shooting update

Salt Lake City's police chief gives an update on a shooting at Saturday's "No Kings" march that left an "innocent bystander" dead.

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a former "Project Runway" contestant and beloved figure in the Pacific Islander arts community, was accidentally shot and killed during a "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City, according to the Associated Press. He was 39.

Salt Lake City police say Ah Loo was unintentionally struck by someone attempting to stop a man who had drawn a rifle at the protest. The man with the rifle has been charged with murder for creating what authorities described as a dangerous chain of events. Ah Loo died later at the hospital.

Who was Arthur Folasa Ah Loo?

The backstory:

Known as Afa to friends and collaborators, Ah Loo was a self-taught designer born in Samoa. He appeared in four episodes of "Project Runway" in 2017 and was widely recognized for blending traditional Pacific Islander elements—such as tapa cloth and native floral motifs—with modern silhouettes.

He co-founded Create Pacific, an arts organization dedicated to uplifting Pacific Islander creatives. His work was featured on red carpets and at community events alike, including a custom outfit worn by actor Auliʻi Cravalho at the Hawaii premiere of "Moana 2," according to the AP.

Ah Loo is survived by his wife and two young children. A GoFundMe set up for his family raised over $100,000 within two days, the AP reported.

What happened at the protest?

What we know:

According to police statements reported by the Associated Press, the shooting occurred when a man pulled out a rifle during the rally. Members of a volunteer peacekeeping group tried to intervene, and during the confrontation, one of them fired a shot that unintentionally struck Arthur Ah Loo. He later died at the hospital.

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo works on a custom design during Season 16 of "Project Runway." The self-taught Samoan fashion designer was known for blending traditional Pacific Islander elements with modern silhouettes. Ah Loo was fatally shot during a protest (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

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The man with the rifle has been charged with murder. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said the suspect created the dangerous conditions that led to the shooting.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not said why the armed man brandished the weapon or what prompted him to flee. It’s also unclear whether the individual who fired the fatal shot will face charges. Detectives are still reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses, according to the AP.

What they're saying:

"He would stand up for marginalized and vulnerable communities and make sure that people had a voice," Utah State Rep. Verona Mauga told the Associated Press. Mauga knew Ah Loo personally and was present at the protest.

Benjamin Powell, a salon innovator from Fiji who co-founded Create Pacific with Ah Loo, told the Associated Press that the two were preparing for a fashion show in August. "The show will continue," he said, adding that it would honor Ah Loo’s vision and legacy.

Powell described Ah Loo’s design style as instantly recognizable. "You would know right away that it was an Ah Loo design," he told the AP.

Mauga also recalled how Ah Loo often styled her personally, sometimes pulling together new blazers or dresses with just a few hours’ notice. "Afa was so much a part of the community," she said.

What's next:

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. According to the AP, police are reviewing footage, interviewing witnesses, and determining whether additional charges will be filed.

Friends and collaborators say the August fashion show Ah Loo was helping organize will still go on—this time in his memory.