Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced on September 12, 2025, that unfired bullet casings were discovered near the rifle believed to have been used by Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During a press conference, Cox revealed that some of the casings were inscribed with anti-fascist messages. One casing bore the inscription, “Hey fascist! Catch! ↑ → ↓ ↓ ↓.” The meaning of the arrows remains unclear. Another casing featured lyrics from the Italian anti-fascist song, “Bella Ciao, bella ciao.” Additional casings contained other, unrelated messages. These casings have been linked to 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident and suspect in the shooting. Authorities reported that Tyler threatened suicide when confronted by his father about the murder.
“Bella Ciao” is a popular Italian anti-fascist song from the World War II era. It originated as a protest song sung by Italian workers in rice fields and became associated with the partisans who resisted the Nazi and fascist regimes. The song gained widespread recognition in recent years and has been featured in various TV shows and video games. It is traditionally sung on April 25 during Italy’s Liberation Day, which commemorates the end of the Nazi occupation and the defeat of Benito Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship. Numerous artists have performed the song, including Tom Waits, Yves Montand, and Becky G. It was also chanted in 2023 to taunt Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and in the European Parliament in 2024. The song, with its catchy lyrics, begins with the lines, “One morning I woke up.” The song was included in the Netflix series Money Heist, and performed by American singer Becky G.