The message engraved on the casing of the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk is used in trolling and “furry” subculture — and experts told The Post on Friday it was written by someone likely chronically online.
The casing had the words, “Notices Buldge OWO what’s this?” on it, according to an arrest affidavit targeting suspected assassin Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old trade-school student from Utah.
The string of words can be used for trolling — and connected to online furry and role-play groups, digital culture experts said.
“Notices buldge” is a meme that shows two guys, including one with cat ears on, sitting across from each other over the computer in what could be perceived as an instance of catfishing, said Queens College media studies Associate Professor Jamie Cohen.
The likely joke is they are both pretending to be something they’re not, he said.
“What’s this” at the end of the message is referring to the person on one end of the meme spotting a bulge as the realization sets in this was a scam.
Meanwhile, “OWO” is an emoticon that displays a cutesy animal face with big eyes and a little nose.
It can be a copypasta, which is a block of text meant to be copied and spread, said another digital culture researcher, Alex Turvy.
“More than anything, it sort of demonstrating that you speak the language of the Internet,” the sociology PhD said. “It’s sort of an inside joke and referencing it a marker of who you are. That you spend a lot of time online.”
He noted “OWO” is common in online role play and the subculture of “furries,” or people who take on animal persona.
Other inscriptions on three unfired casings allegedly belonging to Robinson included one that stated, “Hey fascist! Catch!” with an arrow up, to the right and three pointing down, which appears to be tied to the video game “Helldivers 2” — possibly referring to controller movements to drop bombs, the New York Times said.
Another etched casing stated, “if you read this, you are gay lmao” and the Italian phrase, “Bella Ciao” that has roots to an anti-fascist movement in the European country during World War II.
Stay up to date on the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- Charlie Kirk shot dead at UVU event
- Charlie Kirk shot live updates: Tyler Robinson acted alone, officials say
- Charlie Kirk assassination suspect turned in by cop father, ID’d as 22 year-old Utah man
- Tyler Robinson acted alone in Charlie Kirk shooting, officials say
- Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin to be charged with aggravated murder
- Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson was seething over campus appearance, wrote ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ on bullet
- Tyler Robinson threatened to kill himself rather than surrender after dad confronted him
- Tyler Robinson was raised Mormon — and allegedly killed Charlie Kirk moments after he praised the church
“I will leave that up to you to interpret what those engravings mean,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox about the messages, though he noted the “Hey Fascist! Catch!” phrase “speaks for itself.”
Turvy said he believes the messages indicate that Robinson spent a lot of time online.
They show someone “who’s very at home on the Internet, who has a community there and demonstrates that they are in and get it,” he said.
Cohen, the Queens College professor, cautioned the messages might not have a greater meaning, or, “They could mean everything.”
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Either way, they indicate they come from someone who is “extremely online,” he said.
Kirk, 31, was tragically shot and killed while speaking outside at Utah Valley University, leaving a wife widowed and two children fatherless.
Robinson was captured more than a day after he allegedly pulled the trigger that sent shockwaves across the nation as elected officials strongly condemned acts of political violence.
Authorities said Robinson had a strong disdain for Kirk and voiced his hatred to loved ones.
