Update, June 18, 2:10 p.m. • As of Wednesday afternoon, Salt Lake County prosecutors had not filed criminal charges against 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa.
Gamboa has been held in jail without the option to post bail since he was released from the hospital following Saturday’s protest.
Utah law says jails can hold someone arrested on violent felony charges for up to 24 hours. After that, law enforcement can request the jail hold the inmate for an additional 72 hours. Once those 72 hours have expired law enforcement can file for another hold, or that person can be released.
If prosecutors have not filed criminal charges that would keep someone in jail within that timeframe, law enforcement can ask for another hold — or the person would be released.
“The current law enforcement hold at the County jail is until Thursday,” Gill said in a statement. “At that time there are three options: Release, extend hold or file under our law.”
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Original version:
Prosecutors have not yet filed criminal charges in the three days since a volunteer allegedly fired gunshots at a downtown Salt Lake City protest in opposition of President Donald Trump, killing an innocent bystander and wounding his intended target, another man with a rifle.
The man with a rifle — identified as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa — was arrested soon after the shooting, when officers found him crouching in a group of demonstrators, police said. He was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, although Salt Lake City police investigators say he never fired a shot.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters on Sunday that detectives had detained and interviewed the alleged shooter, as well as another protest “peacekeeper,” who had both apparently confronted Gamboa prior to the shooting. (Police have said one of the men questioned self-described as a “peacekeeper.” Protest organizers have since referred to them as “safety volunteers.”)
“Based on early witness statements, these men saw Gamboa separate from the crowd at one point during the march and move behind a wall, where they noticed him pull out a rifle and begin manipulating it,” Redd said. “Gamboa was then confronted by these two men. Witnesses say Gamboa raised the weapon in a firing position and began running toward the crowd.”
That’s when, Redd said, one of those men fired, fatally striking 39-year-old Arthur Folasa Ah Loo and hitting Gamboa.
Since Saturday, high-vantage video that briefly shows the moments just before, and when, shots ring out — picking up the sound of gunfire — has circulated online and drawn skepticism, with some questioning whether Gamboa had his weapon aimed at the crowd or the ground.
“As this continues to be an active investigation, any comment at this time would be inappropriate,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement on Tuesday.
In a later statement Tuesday afternoon, Gill shared that the case has “yet to be screened by our office, which is not uncommon or of concern as we remain so early into the criminal inquiry.”
“When the gathered evidence is presented to our office and homicide team we will have a better understanding of facts, evidence and any chargeable decision,” that statement continued. “Until then any conjecture would be purely speculative.”
In the meantime, Gill asked the community to be “patient and let law enforcement finish their work.”
He also asked anyone who may be a witness to the shooting to share any information they may have with Salt Lake City police. That information, including photos and video, can be submitted here.
