Man arrested in connection with deadly protest shooting in SLC released Friday

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Attorneys for Arturo Gamboa, the man who was arrested following the deadly shooting at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Salt Lake City, filed a petition claiming that he is being unlawfully detained, and a judge ordered him to be released Friday, under conditions.

Thursday, a judge granted Salt Lake City Police Department’s request to extend Gamboa’s detention for an additional three days, but on Friday, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office wrote an order to release Gamboa and presented it to the judge, who signed it.

On Friday, Deputy District Attorney Joshua N. Graves told the court that the state had been able to review preliminary evidence, and they would not be able “to make an informed decision as to whether charges against Mr. Gamboa will be filed or declined before his scheduled date of June 23,” according to the release order obtained by ABC4.com.

Gamboa will be released under stipulated conditions, including following Level 3 conditions with Pretrial Services, maintaining residence with his father, not possessing any firearms, and turning in his passport to his attorney.

The conditions will apply until charges are filed against Gamboa or until two months have passed.

It appears that Gamboa’s attorneys filed the petition for his release on the same day that the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office made the decision to release him.

In the petition filed by Gamboa’s attorney Greg Skordas, he stated that Gamboa was being held without a warrant or probable cause determination, which is required to be submitted within 24 hours of arrest by Utah law. Gamboa’s detention was then extended, and still no probable cause determination had been filed, Skordas wrote.

Skordas provided the following statement on Gamboa’s case to ABC4.com: “All of the evidence confirms that he was lawfully and openly carrying an unloaded firearm on a public road. He never brandished it, never fired it and never pointed it in the direction of anyone. He was shot in the back by a person who needlessly shot innocent 2 men, killing one.”

“The investigation will continue to be carried out by the Salt Lake City Police Department. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office will continue to review as additional evidence is presented to us,” the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said in a statement.

Salt Lake City Police Department also released a statement in response, which can be read below.

“Today, Friday June 20, 2025, detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad presented their initial findings from the ongoing investigation into the June 14, 2025 deadly shooting in downtown Salt Lake City to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office for legal review.

“This process, known as a case screening, is a key step in any criminal investigation. It serves to analyze legal issues, identify investigative needs, and ensures the matter is prepared for prosecution evaluation, all while detectives continue to investigate.”

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office stated that they presented an order to release Gamboa to the Third District Court following the case screening.

SLCPD requested that anyone with information about the case, including video, to contact them, either through submitting evidence through their public evidence portal, or by calling an officer at 801-799-3000.

“The Salt Lake City Police Department is actively investigating and coordinating with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. We recognize and appreciate the extensive work our detectives have dedicated to this case,” the SLCPD statement continued. “To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, the SLCPD cannot release any further information regarding the screening or comment on the material and information gathered in this case to date.”

Mary Corporon, the attorney representing the Utah 50501 branch that organized the protest, gave ABC4.com the following statement: “There has been so much disinformation about this situation, it cannot possibly be addressed in a comment. 50501 awaits the Salt Lake City Police investigation and does not want to interfere with that process.”

Greg Skordas, the attorney representing Arturo Gamboa, released an updated statement about his client and how he was treated. The full statement can be read below.

“I spent 4 days culling through dozens of media reports, videos and eyewitness accounts. 

“All of the evidence confirmed that he was lawfully and openly carrying an unloaded firearm on a public road. He never brandished it, never fired it and never pointed it in the direction of anyone. He was shot in the back by a man who needlessly shot innocent 2 men, killing one of them. 

“He spent 6 days in jail shackled and leashed. He was given 2 bandaids. One for his bullet’s entry wound and one for the exit wound. No surgery, no stitches and nothing but over the counter pain medication. 

“Arturo has no criminal history whatsoever. He is a United States citizen born in the United States to US citizen parents. He’s an honest hardworking man who would do anything to help his fellow man or woman. He’s an artist and a man who cares deeply about his community.

“When I met with him in jail he cried for his parents, hoping he had not brought disrespect to them. I hope he hasn’t lost that passion for life after 6 days of being treated like an animal.” – Greg Skordas