The 22-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk left his sentiments engraved in bullet casings seized by authorities and they appear to be trolling messages with ties to the antifa movement and video games.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox read the messages aloud to reporters Friday in a press conference when he announced the arrest of Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting death Wednesday of Mr. Kirk, 31.
The messages were carved into unused ammunition found alongside a bolt-action rifle that the FBI said is the murder weapon.
One of the messages, “Hey fascist! catch!” Mr. Cox said, “Speaks for itself.”
The “Hey fascist” inscription echoes the message of antifa, a left-wing, militant movement whose members have engaged in violent street protests. Antifa is named after the term anti-fascist.
Mr. Kirk has been called a fascist by left-wing critics. According to a family member, Mr. Robinson despised Mr. Kirk and said he was “full of hate and spreading hate.”
SEE ALSO: ‘We got him’: Authorities arrest Charlie Kirk assassin suspect Tyler Robinson
On the same bullet casing, authorities disclosed, was engraved a series of arrows that video gamers say reference the game Helldivers 2.
On another bullet was inscribed the message “oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” which are lyrics from a World War II Italian protest song, Bella Ciao.
Gamers point out that the song is also used in Far Cry 6, a first-person shooter video game
The song has also been co-opted by Antifa, according to Andy Ngo, who covers the Antifa movement closely.
Two other messages found on the unspent ammo were disclosed:
“If you read this, you are gay LMAO,” and “notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?”
SEE ALSO: Here’s what’s known about Charlie Kirk assassin suspect Tyler Robinson
The latter message is a meme associated with the “furries” subculture.
Mr. Robinson was booked into a Utah County Jail on Friday. A family member turned him in to the authorities.
The motive for the shooting, while not crystal clear, appears tied to the suspect’s dislike of Mr. Kirk, a polarizing figure in politics and culture who had legions of fans — and a growing number of critics and enemies.
Authorities interviewed Mr. Robinson’s roommate, who provided them with messages posted by Mr. Robinson on the communications platform Discord about the weapon used in the crime.
The arrest affidavit said that Mr. Robinson “stated the need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point — leaving the rifle in a bush,” and that the Discord messages “related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel.”
Authorities found the rifle wrapped in a dark-colored towel.
Mr. Robinson also wrote on Discord that he “had changed outfits,” in what appears to be a reference to his actions during the shooting.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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