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A volunteer peacekeeper has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the fatal shooting of well-respected Samoan fashion designer Arthur “Afa” Ah Loo in the United States. 

Authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah, made the announcement today (local time), almost six months after Ah Loo was shot and killed at an anti-Trump “No Kings” protest in downtown Salt Lake City in June. 

A 43-year-old man named as Matthew Scott Alder, who was a designated “peacekeeper” for the protest’s organisers, has been charged with Ah Loo’s manslaughter. 

Alder had allegedly been shooting at another man, later identified as Arturo Gamboa, who had been carrying an AR-15 rifle during the protest march. 

Alder allegedly fired three shots, one of which hit Gamboa, while another hit Ah Loo. 

The 39-year-old, a father of two young children, was critically injured and rushed to hospital, where he died. 

‘No one should go through what I have experienced’ - Laura Ah Loo 

Ah Loo was a celebrated fashion designer from Samoa, whose works and designs were well-known around the Pacific region and particularly among Pasifika celebrities in Hawaii, the US, New Zealand and Australia. 

Afa Ah Loo pictured with wife Laura and children Vera and Isaac with Santa. 

He specialised in pageant and event wear, often designing for Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands winners, and appeared in the US hit show Project Runway. 

Laura Ah Loo said in a statement that the past five months had been long, painful and deeply frustrating as the family waited for answers. She said today’s decision was both moral and just. 

Arthur "Afa" Ah Loo, 39, was killed by a stray bullet during a "No Kings" march in June. Photo / Instagram 

“For five months, there had not yet been any accountability for actions or clarity as to how such a horrific incident would be addressed, nor remorse from Matt Alder himself for taking Afa’s life from us and from the world. 

“No one else should have to go through what I have experienced in the future. 

“It is my desire to help ensure that tragedies like this are prevented in the future and that public spaces in our community remain safe.” 

She said the grief of losing her husband had been profound and overwhelming, and she was resolved to continue striving for what she described as meaningful justice and change. 

Afa Ah Loo’s brother, Auckland-based Herman Ah Loo, told the Herald earlier this year of the family’s humble beginnings in Samoa and how his younger brother had been inspired by their seamstress mother. 

“That’s how his passion started. He made clothes at home. 

“We were so proud of him – he was putting our last name out there, and I was proud to tell people that was my little brother.” 

Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.