Rewritten Headline
Investigators have uncovered a bizarre clue in the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk: the bullet casing that ended his life featured an engraving from a niche internet meme popular in pro-transgender and furry online communities. This detail is shedding new light on the possible motives of alleged shooter Tyler Robinson.
The spent casing, recovered from a wooded spot near Utah Valley University, bore the phrase “Notices bulge OwO what’s this?” It came from the fatal shot fired on Wednesday night, when Kirk was speaking on campus. For those not deep into online culture, this is a “copypasta” meme—a chunk of text people copy and paste for laughs or shock value. It first popped up on DeviantArt back in January 2013, as documented on KnowYourMeme.com.
The meme often ties into furry fandom, where fans enjoy anthropomorphic animal characters, sometimes with a sexual twist. A recent Furscience survey shows that 25 times more furries identify as transgender compared to the average US adult. Plus, 22% of them describe themselves as non-binary, genderqueer, or genderfluid. The “OwO” part is a cute emoticon mimicking wide eyes and a little mouth, often used for flirting or sarcastic trolling in these circles.
Police found the casing near a .30-06 bolt-action hunting rifle, the kind commonly used for big game like deer across Utah and the US. The gun had a telescopic sight and a manual action, meaning the shooter had to reload by hand after each shot. Inside its magazine? Three more rounds, each engraved with wild internet references:
– “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,” from the iconic Italian anti-fascist song.
– “Hey fascist! Catch!” paired with a nod to the video game Helldivers 2.
– “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
Kirk died from a single high-powered round that struck him in the neck. The shot came from an elevated sniper spot about 200 yards away, right as he was fielding a question on transgender mass shooters—a topic he’d been outspoken about lately.
Authorities haven’t confirmed if transgender rights played a role in the attack. But Robinson’s live-in boyfriend, Lance Twiggs, is transgender (transitioning from male to female) and has shared social media photos wearing furry ears and related accessories. The phrase “notices bulge” is slang referencing male anatomy, and it’s common in both furry and trans online spaces based on recent scans.
In the aftermath, Utah Governor Spencer Cox has blasted social media’s toxic influence, calling it “worse than cancer” for fueling hate and division. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, he said, “These companies have hacked our brains, getting us addicted to outrage like it’s fentanyl.” Cox even linked social media to recent assassinations and attempts, warning of its damage to kids through evil algorithms.
Cox revealed Robinson isn’t cooperating with police—he hasn’t confessed—and is refusing to talk. But those close to him, like family and friends, are spilling details. The governor described Robinson as “deeply indoctrinated in leftist ideology,” based on what his inner circle has shared on shows like ABC’s This Week and CNN’s State of the Union.
As the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination continues, these meme engravings and online ties are raising big questions about how internet subcultures might connect to real-world violence. Utah officials say Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
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