| MATTHEW LYNCH,
EXECUTIVE EDITOR |
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Late last week, as the search for conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s killer was at its height, the news-reading public quickly divided itself into two groups: those who knew what the phrase “Notices bulges OwO what’s this?” means and those who did not. While the background and potential motivations of Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, were slower to emerge, it was immediately apparent that the gunman was intensely familiar with certain online communities. Joshua Rivera reports.
Elsewhere today, Cristian Farias assesses the extraordinary capital case being made against Luigi Mangione; we review the best-dressed from Sunday evening’s Emmy awards; and we begin to envision what a joint public engagement by Melania Trump and Kate Middleton will look like. |
On Friday morning, Tyler Robinson—the suspected killer of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk—was taken into custody after a two-day manhunt. At a public briefing, it was revealed that the shooter’s bullet casings were allegedly inscribed with bizarre messages: One read “Notices bulges OwO what’s this?” Unfired cartridges in the magazine allegedly read “Hey fascist! Catch!,” followed by five arrow symbols: one up, one right, and three down. Photographs of the ammunition have not yet been made public, and it’s possible that there are minor discrepancies in punctuation—but none that would make these phrases appear any less nonsensical. That is, unless you have a passing familiarity with gamer and internet-forum culture. |
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From smart suiting to glamorous gowns, these award-worthy looks deserve their own statuettes. |
The Justice Department has pursued a fast-track, and, some legal experts say, unusual path to building its capital case against the high-profile suspect. “I’ve been handling capital cases for over 20 years,” one tells VF, “and I’ve never seen anything like it.” |
On the occasion of President Trump’s state visit to the UK, the first lady and the Princess of Wales are setting aside some one-on-one time. |
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The “Craigslist Murder” was a crime made possible by the internet, and the prime suspect was apprehended through online sleuthing. But the killing of Julissa Brisman was a very human mystery, with dark sexual overtones and surprising contradictions.
From the October 2009 issue, Maureen Orth examines the chilling case. |
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