- It's been a year since Afa Ah Loo was fatally shot at a No Kings protest in June 2025.
- Ah Loo's legacy inspires discussions on gun safety and supports young artists.
SALT LAKE CITY — One year after a Salt Lake City father, husband and fashion designer was fatally shot during a downtown protest, friends and community leaders said his legacy continues to shape conversations about gun safety and inspire young artists.
Afa Ah Loo died after being shot at the large No Kings protest on State Street on June 14, 2025.
Ah Loo, a recent U.S. citizen, was an innocent bystander when shots were fired, sending crowds scrambling for safety.
"It still seems surreal that he's not here with us," said Utah state Rep. Verona Mauga, D-West Valley City, who was close friends with Ah Loo. "The year has gone by so quickly."
Authorities have charged Matt Alder with manslaughter in Ah Loo's death. Investigators said Alder fired his weapon after seeing another protester carrying an AR-15-style rifle. One of Alder's shots struck Ah Loo.
In a New York Times article published Monday, Alder's attorney said his client believed he was acting to prevent a potential mass shooting.
Mauga said the impact of Ah Loo's death extends beyond those who knew him personally.
"There are many people who were impacted, whether they knew him or not," she said. "We saw in real time that we don't have all the safety measures in place."
She added that Ah Loo's name has become part of ongoing discussions about gun safety and prevention.
"When we're having these conversations, and we talk about what the future could look like for gun safety, we're always going to remember Afa's name until that happens," Mauga said.
Another friend and business partner, Ben Powell, said he's channeling his grief into preserving Ah Loo's legacy.
"I can't change what happened, but I can change the narrative of the future," Powell said.
The two co-founded the Creative Pacific Foundation, an organization focused on uplifting Pacific Islander artists.
"He's a designer, and I am actually a hairdresser," Powell said. "He and I worked in the capacity of really bringing light to the space of what we both do in our Pacific Island community, which, sometimes, we don't see people who look like us."
Powell continues to run the foundation and said he has received messages from young creatives inspired by Ah Loo's story.
"He came from the islands directly, was not raised in America, lived here for 10 years and shot to where he was on 'Project Runway' and created a business model and formed a foundation that we're running, and was just so present," Powell said. "He was also one of those people that you never would have thought, 'You're a designer?' He always kept himself very modest and humble."
Ah Loo, who was Samoan, remained deeply connected to his roots while building his career in the United States, friends said.
"He truly cared about others and brought humanity to advocacy," Mauga said. "That's something we're missing in today's political world."
A memorial event honoring Ah Loo's life is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Manny's Neighborhood Bar in Salt Lake City, a venue where friends said he enjoyed singing karaoke. Proceeds from tickets will support a scholarship fund for young artists pursuing trade school careers.
