Charlie Kirk shooting suspect referenced fascism and memes on bullets, officials say

The suspect accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk left behind ammunition engraved with a seemingly anti-fascist message.

The suspect accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk left behind ammunition engraved with a reference to fascism and obscure internet memes and video games, officials said Friday.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said inscriptions were found on at least four shell casings linked to Tyler Robinson, 22, who was arrested early Friday in connection with the killing. One engraving read, “Hey fascist! Catch! ↑ → ↓↓↓,” a seeming reference, at least in part, to a video game that's been interpreted as a satire of fascism.

Authorities said the rounds were found with a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle, fitted with a scope, that investigators recovered in a wooded area on the edge of Utah Valley University’s campus. The gun was wrapped in a dark-colored towel.

In addition to the engraving referencing fascists, Cox also referred to engravings that contained more obscure references.

On the fired casing, for instance, a message read: “notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?”