I agree that Gamboa’s actions were at the very least inadvisable.
Pointing out: he starts running after the peacekeeper fires upon him, not before.
I don’t think we know what happened before that video started. Peacekeepers said they shouted at him to drop the weapon. Was he aware of their presence before they shot? What exactly was said?
The eyewitness accounts I’ve seen so far in the news seem perhaps one-sided and I’ve been speculating that the police could have put some trust into the statements of the peacekeepers that they interviewed.
Regarding his ski mask, SLC is a ski town. Many people own balaclavas, and I saw many people at the protest wearing them. I saw pictures of people at the Thursday protest wearing them as well. The organizers pointed out to be careful about taking pictures as some people might not want their identities revealed. Personally, I wore a mask.
A guy in a mask with a gun looks scary, and I don’t think what happened is surprising. However, many of the right wing militias open carry while wearing masks. They do so because it is legal and is in fact their right. What I’m ultimately saying is, given the evidence available, if I were on some (fantasy) jury, I would so far be thinking “reasonable doubt”.
Sure, but he was a leftist in a punk band with lyrics that were very aligned with the values of the protest. Personally, I’m not seeing the right wing mass shooter angle.
Edit: also not really seeing that his intention would be to get a rise out of the libs either… Though if he’s a leftist it could be that he despises libs just as much as he despises conservatives. I’ve just never seen a leftist act with the same intention as right wing militia guys before. But who knows.
https://www.slugmag.com/soundwaves/episode-364-rade/