22-year-old Tyler Robinson, from Utah, was identified as the suspect in the attempted assassination of activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on 10/9. During their search for Robinson, police recovered the suspected weapon along with 4 bullets etched with unusual messages.

One bullet was inscribed with "Hey Fascist! Catch!" followed by an upward arrow, a rightward arrow, and three downward arrows. Police initially struggled to decipher the meaning of these markings, suspecting a political message.

However, analysts identified the arrow sequence as the button combination to detonate the "Eagle 500 kg" bomb in the popular video game Helldivers 2.

This bomb is a frequent meme within the Helldivers community due to its exaggerated power, capable of obliterating dense enemy formations or challenging targets with a single blast.

The rifle recovered near the scene of the Charlie Kirk assassination attempt on 10/9. Photo: X/sentdefender

The rifle recovered near the scene of the Charlie Kirk assassination attempt on 10/9. Photo: X/sentdefender

The game garnered a large following upon its 2024 release. Players form teams of up to 4 members, known as Helldivers, traversing the universe to "spread democracy" by battling monsters, robots, and aliens.

Harry Batchelor, an extremism researcher collaborating with the Network for Extremist and Gaming Research, noted that while the government system in Helldivers 2 is portrayed as "democratic," it is essentially "fascist" in nature. Arrowhead Game Studios, the developers of Helldivers 2, did not respond to requests for comment.

Don Caldwell, editor of Know Your Meme, a website documenting internet phenomena, explained that the arrow combination for the Eagle 500 kg bomb is also used online to signify someone "about to take a major, violent action."

"It could be the suspect's way of expressing that he was about to do something reckless," Caldwell commented.

Helldivers 2 may not be the only game referenced in the bullet inscriptions. Another bullet was etched with lyrics from the popular Italian folk song "Bella Ciao" (Goodbye Beautiful). The song, historically associated with the post-war anti-fascist movement in Italy, has experienced a resurgence in popularity online in recent years.

"Bella Ciao" also holds significance for the rebel forces in Far Cry 6, a video game set on a Caribbean island ruled by a dictator. Players can find a USB drive containing "Bella Ciao" within the game. This USB drive is not an ordinary item, but a collectible labeled "Bella Ciao de Libertad," signifying its representation of the Libertad (Freedom) rebel group in the game, described as a song that has "inspired guerrillas and insurgents for over a century."

Another inscription on Robinson's bullets, "Notices bulges, OwO what's this?", recalls a meme about anthropomorphic animals popular in 2015. ("OwO" is an emoticon expressing cute surprise.)

The fourth bullet was inscribed with "If you read this you are gay LMAO," seemingly a common online insult rather than a specific political message.

"I believe the suspect lived more in the internet world than the real world," Batchelor remarked.

Caldwell suggested the suspect etched these messages onto the bullets knowing "they would be discovered and reported by the press."

"Everyone knows memes are powerful and attract attention. As soon as people read the news, they'll look for the message these memes are trying to convey," Caldwell observed.

Experts note that violent video games have drawn increased scrutiny recently. US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on 9/9 that violent video games could be contributing to the rise in school shootings.

However, Alex Newhouse, an extremism researcher at the University of Colorado at Boulder, cautioned against blaming any specific game. The issue lies in the suspect's use of online language to carry out an act of violence.

"The messages the suspect etched on the bullets are very common online, often found among people who post sarcastically and try to appear cool," Newhouse said.

Suspect Tyler Robinson. Photo: FBI

Suspect Tyler Robinson. Photo: FBI

Robinson, the suspect in Kirk's attempted assassination, was arrested on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated assault, and obstruction of justice.

Kirk, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump and considered a rising star in the Republican Party, was shot in the neck during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on 10/9. He collapsed on stage in front of approximately 3,000 people.

Robinson is not cooperating with the investigation, and authorities have yet to determine a motive for the attack. The Utah governor is seeking the death penalty.

Hong Hanh (Wired)