Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University. Authorities apprehended Tyler Robinson, age 22, in connection with the shooting after a 33-hour manhunt involving tips from Robinson’s family and subsequent coordination with law enforcement. The weapon recovered—a .30-06 caliber Mauser bolt-action rifle—was discovered wrapped in a towel in the wooded area near the campus and sent for FBI forensic analysis.
Governor Spencer Cox and the FBI confirmed during their official briefings that bullet casings at the scene showed engraved anti-fascist slogans, such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” accompanied by arrow symbols, and and phrases lifted from historical antifascist movements. The phrase “Bella Ciao,” an anthem of resistance from WWII Italy and a staple of contemporary antifascist rallies, was found inscribed on multiple occasions. “I will leave that up to you to interpret what those engravings mean,” Cox told reporters, adding that the “Hey fascist, catch!” inscription “speaks for itself.”
