The callous bullet case engravings allegedly made by Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson included a reference to Bella Ciao – an anti-fascist anthem featured in a Netflix crime drama.
The song, which emerged as a resistance anthem against fascism in 20th century Italy and in recent years gained popularity thanks to Spanish series Money Heist, offers clues as to Robinson’s beliefs and potential motive in the shooting.
The 22-year-old was turned in and arrested on Thursday after the fatal shooting of conservative influencers Kirk at his ‘American Comeback Tour’ event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was shot in the neck at the event during a debate with a student about mass shootings, with horrifying footage showing him recoiling from the impact before he was later pronounced dead.
At a press conference on Friday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed the bullets Robinson allegedly loaded, with one shot at Kirk, were engraved with disturbing slogans.
Anti-fascist messages, as well as twisted humor in the form of internet meme content, were discovered inscribed on the bullets loaded into the rifle believed to have been used in the fatal shooting of Kirk on Wednesday.
One bullet referenced a 2013 meme intended to mock the furry and transgender communities, and another read: ‘Hey Fascists, Catch!’ with a video game bomb stratagem code reference alongside it.
Among them was one featuring lyrics to the song, with ‘Oh, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao,’ said to have been etched into the casing.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was turned in and arrested on Thursday night after the fatal shooting of Kirk at his ‘American Comeback Tour’ event at Utah Valley University
Kirk was shot in the neck at the event on his American Comeback Tour during one his infamous ‘prove me wrong’ debates about mass shootings before he was later pronounced dead
Robinson was found to have engraved meme content and anti-fascist messaging on bullets loaded into the rifle believed to have been used in the shooting
The historic song was notably adopted by the Anti-Fascist Resistance against the Italian Social Republic during World War II.
On April 25, known as Liberation Day in Italy, the song can be heard being sung around the country to commemorate the fall of Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime.
Its origins are believed to be from around the late 19th century, sung by rice field works during the grueling long days of poorly paid work in the hot sun.
The lyrics ‘goodbye, beautiful’, were originally sung as a farewell to a beautiful woman as the workers made their way to work in the abhorrent conditions.
A translation of the song describes insects, mosquitoes and hard work.
‘The boss is standing with his cane, oh goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, bye, bye, bye. The boss is standing with his cane and we work with our backs curved,’ one of the verses translates to.
The song continues describing the ‘torment’ of the work before concluding that ‘the day will come when all of us, oh goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, bye, bye, bye, but the day will come when all of us will work in freedom.’
One of the women working in a north Italian rice field rests against a friend (June 28, 1951)
Broadcasted Mussolini Speech Announcing The Creation Of Italian Empire In Milan On March 12, 1936
The song took on new meaning after it was adopted as an anti-fascist anthem in WWII. Its new lyrics describe a young partisan who leaves his love to join the militia.
As he leaves for war, he says goodbye to his beloved for what he believes to be the last time, and requests that upon his death he would be buried ‘in the mountain under the shade of a beautiful flower.’
Pictured: Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
‘This is the flower of the partisan, oh goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, goodbye beautiful, bye bye bye, this is the flower of the partisan who died for freedom,’ the translation reads.
Both versions of the iconic song were recorded for the first time in 1964 by Italian folk singer Giovanna Daffini.
Since its recording, the song has been recorded and translated numerous times.
As its meaning continued to persist as an anti-authoritarian and anti-establishment anthem, it has been featured in protests across the world.
Most recently, the song’s popularity was revived after being featured in the 2017 Spanish crime drama TV series Money Heist, or La Casa de Papel [The House of Paper].
The show, set in Madrid, initially follows eight robbers, led by a criminal mastermind known as the Professor, as they perform the ‘most perfect heist in Spanish history.’
Most recently, Bella Ciao’s popularity was revived after being featured in the 2017 Spanish crime drama TV series Money Heist, or La Casa de Papel [The House of Paper]
Throughout the series, Bella Ciao is regularly used in the show as a symbol of freedom
Told from the perspective of Tokyo, one of the robbers, the group infiltrate the Royal Mint of Spain and lock themselves inside with hostages before successfully escaping with $1,154,035,200 USD
Told from the perspective of Tokyo, one of the robbers, the group infiltrates the Royal Mint of Spain and lock themselves inside with hostages.
They successfully escape with €984 million ($1,154,035,200 USD).
Throughout the series, Bella Ciao is regularly used in the show as a symbol of freedom.
It plays during two key scenes in particular; first as the Professor and another robber, Berlin, sing it in preparation for the heist as they embrace their role as resistance against the establishment.
Its second notable feature comes as the group escape from the Mint, and is used as an intended symbol of freedom.
Tokyo notes in one narration that, ‘the life of the Professor revolved around a single idea: Resistance. His grandfather, who had fought against the fascists in Italy, taught him the song, and he taught us.’
A demonstrator dressed in the iconic ‘La Casa the Papel’ (Money Heist) red jumpsuit holds a placard reading ‘Should we call it dictatorship, or not yet?’ during an protest against the Spanish government on October 12, 2020 in Madrid, Spain
People were pictured wearing Money Heist costumes in Times Square on October 31, 2020 in New York City
The show, intended to be a limited series, continued for five seasons and became the most watched non-English language show on Netflix in 2018.
As season four was released, Money Heist was streamed in 65 million households, GQ reported.
The red jumpsuits and Dalí masks became globally recognized, and were seen sported at protests in Puerto Rico to soccer games in Greece.
Suddenly, Halloween became a sea of red as the costume became a popular favorite following the shows release.
Bella Ciao’s prominent feature in the show pushed it back into the charts and introduced a new generation to the song and its political significance.
Robinson’s apparent addition of the lyrics to the bullet engravings seemingly fits with the other anti-fascist messaging and possibly signals that he saw the fatal shooting of Kirk as an act of rebellion and political protest.
At a family dinner prior to the shooting, Robinson is said to have told his family of his dislike for Kirk and discussed the controversial figure’s visit to the Utah campus.
‘They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,’ Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed in a press conference Friday morning.
Robinson seen in his mugshot
Robinson has two younger brothers, and lives in a $600,000 six-bedroom home in Washington, Utah – about 260 miles south of Kirk’s assassination in Orem
The family members also told police Robinson had described Kirk as ‘full of hate and spreading hate’.
Robinson’s family told police the 22-year-old had become ‘more political in recent years’, Cox said.
Robinson’s comments raised a red flag with his family – so much so that they told police about the conversation following his arrest for Kirk’s murder.
It was Robinson’s father who ultimately turned his son into law enforcement.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Robinson confessed to his father, Matt Robinson, who owns and operates a construction company.
Matt had recognized his son in photos shared by the FBI and confronted him about the shooting.
When Robinson confessed, his dad urged him to turn himself in.
He reportedly told his dad that he would rather kill himself than turn himself in, but was persuaded to speak with a local youth minister, who also works with the US Marshals Service.
Robinson now faces charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The alleged gunman does not have a recorded political affiliation and did not vote in the last two elections, voting records show.
His parents, Matt and Amber Robinson, are both registered Republicans.
