Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect Linked to Online Gaming Culture, Utah Governor Points to Radicalizing Influence
SALT LAKE CITY – The suspect in the shooting targeting conservative speaker Charlie Kirk has been identified as a player of the video game “Jedi 2,” with messages engraved on bullet casings linked to the game and wider online meme culture, according to authorities and online analysis. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has publicly stated he believes factors including ”the dark side of the Internet and Reddit culture” contributed to the suspect’s radicalization.
Investigators discovered messages on spent shell casings at the scene of the shooting, which included the command for a 500kg bomb attack from “Jedi 2,” identified by players as relating to the game’s “Flying Eagle” aircraft. other messages referenced the “Furry” meme, the song “bella ciao” popularized by the series “Paper House,” and “Iron Ambition 4.” The discovery prompted a temporary closure of the “Helldivers” subreddit on Reddit for 13 days to manage disputes arising from the connection.
Governor Cox noted the suspect had an ACT score of 34 out of 36, but acknowledged he lacked detailed knowledge of the meaning behind the messages, attributing them to “games and memes.” He suggested these elements are key drivers of “deviation and radicalism among young people.” Mainstream media and political factions are currently attempting to interpret the messages to align with their respective narratives, while some observers argue that video games are being unfairly blamed in the wake of the shooting, diverting attention from the accessibility of firearms in the United States.
