Authorities say Tyler Robinson, 22, left disturbing messages on bullet casings before assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Robinson, a Utah State University student, turned himself in Thursday after being identified in surveillance footage climbing a rooftop at Utah Valley University.
Messages on Casings
At a Friday press conference, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed the engravings found on the rifle casings.
One fired casing was inscribed with: “Notices, bulges, capital O-W-O, what’s this?”
#WATCH: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox reads what was on the bullet casings found near the rifle from the suspected shooter in the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Story: https://t.co/zhdM0qvfTT pic.twitter.com/grUIEwu1yb— WPRI 12 (@wpri12) September 12, 2025
On three unfired casings, messages read: “Hey fascist! Catch!” with arrow symbols.
Another was marked with lyrics from the anti-fascist song Bella ciao.
A third said: “If you read this you are gay LMAO.”
“I think that speaks for itself,” Gov. Cox told reporters.
Historical References
The song Bella ciao was adopted by Italian resistance fighters during World War II.
The phrase “Notices bulges OWO what’s this?” is known as an online trolling meme.
Both were found etched on the shells left behind by Robinson’s weapon.
Death Penalty Sought
Cox announced that Utah prosecutors will pursue the death penalty.
“Over the last 48 hours, I have been as angry as I have ever been,” he said, visibly emotional.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited President Trump with granting him sweeping authority to pursue the suspect.
“In less than 36 hours – 33 to be precise – the suspect was apprehended in historic time,” Patel said.
He explained that forensic teams matched palm and fingerprint evidence against more than 11,000 samples.
Investigators also obtained Robinson’s Discord messages, shared by a roommate.
The chats described retrieving a rifle from a drop point and hiding it in a bush.
Other notes referenced wrapping the weapon in a towel and watching the area from a distance.
Case Continues
Officials said Robinson admitted his role in the assassination.
They are now compiling evidence to formally support the charges.
President Trump praised the rapid arrest and said Kirk would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
