Deciphering the messages Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer allegedly engraved on bullet casings

The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk allegedly left four bullet casings at the crime scene in Orem, Utah, that were engraved with various online-themed messages.

The messages that investigators found in the rifle they believe 22-year-old Tyler Robinson used in Wednesday’s shooting at Utah Valley University include a furry meme, a reference from a video game and an online taunt.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Friday revealed the inscriptions found on each of the casings. Some might sound nonsensical, but each message has roots in the online world. Together they hint that Robinson likely was immersed in video game culture and the social media world.

• The lone fired casing said: “notices bulges OWO what’s this?” It is an apparent reference to an OwO (pronounced ‘oo-woo’) about furry subculture. Know Your Meme says “the phrase is a reference to a viral copypasta that parodies online furry and roleplay culture."
• One unfired casing read: “hey fascist! catch!” with an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols. After Friday’s news conference, gamers immediately took to social media to note that this is a game stratagem from the video game Helldivers 2. Specifically, this is used to call in air support to drop a 500-kilogram bomb and obliterate an enemy.
• Another casing said: “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao.” The reference to “Bella Ciao” is likely what led authorities to initially characterize the etchings as “antifascist.” “Bella Ciao” (Beautiful Goodbye) is the title of an Italian folk song, popularized by the Italian resistance against the Nazis during World War II. However, the song has been co-opted by other groups in recent years, even appearing in several video games — including Helldivers 2 and Far Cry 6.
• The final unfired casing read: “if you read this you are gay lmao.”

Online sleuths also quickly dug up photos appearing to show Robinson dressed as a “groyper meme” for Halloween.

Newsweek reports that the “Groyper Army is a far-right, online-based movement organized around white nationalist and ‘America First’ advocate Nick Fuentes.”

The Anti-Defamation League calls the group “a loose network of alt right figures.”

The ADL notes that “Groypers regularly confront mainstream conservative organizations like Turning Point USA (TPUSA) for failing to promote a truly ‘America First’ agenda and for not being adequately ‘pro white’” and that Fuentes had been expelled from Charlie Kirk and TPUSA events in the past.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.