In the press conference confirming the arrest of Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, authorities on Friday released the list of phrases and words that were engraved on the four ammunition cartridges found in the rifle allegedly used to kill Kirk.
One of the intact cartridges reportedly contained the words, “Hey fascist! Catch!”
Next to the words were five arrows, specifically, “an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols.”
The combination of arrow symbols appear identically in a list of “Stratagem Codes” for the video game, Helldivers 2, allowing the user to summon a 500 kilogram bomb. More than 12 million copies of the game have reportedly sold since it was released last year.
On another cartridge, authorities said the killer engraved, “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!”
These appear to be lyrics from the Italian song, “Bella Ciao,” which an article in the scholarly Sage Journals explains, “is one of the best-known partisan songs of the Italian anti-fascist Resistance (1943–5) and is part of the repertoire of protest of many movements across the globe.”
More recently, the song was featured in the film “Money Heist,” and was described by Oprah Daily as “a song of solidarity during COVID-19.”
The final unfired cartridge reportedly contained an engraving which taunted the investigators, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
On the cartridge which held the round fired at Kirk was reportedly engraved, “Notices bulge OwO what’s this?” This appears to reference a lewd internet meme that first surfaced in early 2013, when the alleged assassin was approximately 10 years old.
The words that were reportedly engraved on the cartridges additionally appear in the leaked documents from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office published on Friday by Steven Crowder, revealing how deputies recorded the writings in their report.
EXCLUSIVE: Mug Club Undercover obtained Utah County Sheriff's Office internal documents regarding suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson pic.twitter.com/jEAvcrulIk
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) September 12, 2025
Authorities said Robinson eventually agreed to turn himself in following a confrontation with his father, and after his roommate informed law enforcement of a disturbing “joke” made in the messaging application, Discord, which investigators said involved the alleged assassin describing his need to retrieve or move a rifle.
Following the exchange with his father, Robinson reportedly spoke to a minister before agreeing to surrender to law enforcement.
Kirk died after he was shot on Wednesday while hosting an event at Utah Valley University, located around four hours away from Robinson’s home. Kirk married his wife, Erika, in 2021, and left behind two children.
Watch the full press conference:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
