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Tyler Robinson, recently apprehended in connection with the tragic shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, reportedly left an unsettling trail of evidence: bullets meticulously engraved with internet culture references. Among these bizarre markings were a popular furry meme, a specific combo sequence from the video game Helldivers 2, and other perplexing online taunts discovered at the scene.
During an FBI briefing held this morning, Utah Governor Spencer Cox detailed the events leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Robinson, who was ultimately turned in by his own father. Authorities also used the briefing to clarify the distinct nature of the inscriptions on the bullet casings recovered from the crime scene. Initial rumors had suggested slogans tied to antifascist or “transgender ideology,” but officials confirmed the messages were, in fact, an eclectic and often confusing blend of internet memes and pop culture allusions.
The specific messages found etched into the bullets, while exact capitalization remains unconfirmed, were described as follows:
“Notices bulges OWO what’s this?”“Hey fascist! Catch!”(followed by an arrow sequence: Up, Right, Down, Down, Down)“Oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao”“If you read this, you are gay lmao”
According to Know Your Meme, the inscription on the fired bullet casing—“Notices bulges OWO what’s this?”—is a well-known meme originating from furry online roleplay communities.
The “antifascist” interpretation for some of the engravings is understandable given certain references. The phrase “Bella ciao” harks back to an Italian folk song famously adopted by partisans and resistance fighters during Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime. Governor Cox, when questioned during the conference, stated that the message “Hey fascist!” “speaks for itself.” Furthermore, the presence of three downward-slanting arrows is a recognized symbol associated with both historical and modern antifascist movements.
However, the complete arrow sequence (Up, Right, Down, Down, Down) was swiftly identified by online communities as a specific command input, or “stratagem,” from the popular video game Helldivers 2—used to deploy the powerful Eagle 500kg Bomb. The Helldivers universe itself, drawing thematic inspiration from works like Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, is a satirical take on fascism, where players are depicted fighting on behalf of a seemingly fascist state, as described by its developer, Arrowhead.
While the explicit link between “Bella ciao” and the shooter’s motives isn’t immediately clear, the song’s profound historical weight means it has appeared in various contexts. It’s notably featured in a Helldivers 2 mod and in Hearts of Iron IV, a popular World War II-themed strategy video game.
The tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday ignited an intensive manhunt across Utah, a search fraught with several complications. Initial leads, publicly hinted at by FBI Director Kash Patel, ultimately proved to be dead ends. Adding to the confusion, leaked law enforcement documents, amplified by MAGA influencers, fueled erroneous narratives suggesting bullet markings indicated the shooter held views supportive of “transgender ideology.”
The death of Charlie Kirk made it virtually impossible to separate the event from the pervasive influence of politics and online misinformation. At 31, Kirk was a significant voice within the MAGA movement, recognized as the founder and leader of the influential right-wing collegiate organization Turning Point USA. He was also a prominent podcaster and influencer, known for his campus appearances where he often engaged in debates with liberal students. Former President Donald Trump notably credited Kirk and TPUSA for contributing to his political resurgence and frequently utilized him as a liaison to younger voters.
In the wake of Kirk’s death, allies within the MAGA movement, including lawmakers and prominent influencers, vowed swift retribution against the left if the killer’s ideology aligned with theirs. While the satirical themes of Helldivers 2 might carry an underlying ideological current, potentially aligning with some interpretations, the totality of the messages on the bullet casings remains profoundly bizarre and deeply rooted in internet subcultures.
The FBI indicated that key evidence leading to Robinson’s arrest included screenshots from his roommate’s Discord chat. In these messages, Robinson allegedly discussed leaving a rifle, wrapped in a towel, concealed in some bushes. Subsequently, law enforcement successfully recovered a Mauser .30-06 rifle from an area near the campus, exactly as described.
Gaming enthusiasts were quick to connect the dots. Following the Friday morning press conference, the Helldivers subreddit experienced a surge of activity as players identified potential in-game references. One now-deleted thread, provocatively titled “Hey Facist Catch!”, featured a poster asking, “Did anyone else hear/notice?!” A comment within that thread reportedly read, “The moment I heard [the arrows] my eyes widened.”
Another forum thread, also seemingly removed by moderators, explicitly referenced the arrow sequence found on one of the unfired bullet casings. A distressed poster wrote, “It sickens me having people like this playing this game and using it to real violence to tarnish this awesome game and community.” Other users appealed to subreddit moderators to temporarily close the forum due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. Requests for comment from the subreddit moderators went unanswered. Meanwhile, a distinct thread within the r/Helldivers2 subreddit continues to facilitate ongoing discussions about the unsettling parallels.
Arrowhead, the developer behind the Helldivers game series, has not yet issued a statement or responded to inquiries regarding these developments.