Jacksonville Rapper Julio Foolio Shot and Killed in Tampa Hotel Parking Lot

Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio, known offstage as Charles Jones, tragically met his untimely demise in the early hours of Sunday morning in a shooting incident right outside a Holiday Inn in Tampa. Lewis Fusco, the rapper’s legal representative, confirmed the somber news, revealing that Jones was celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa over the weekend.

The Tampa Police Department swiftly responded to a distress call concerning a shooting at the hotel located across from the University of South Florida at approximately 4:40 a.m. While the victim’s identity is not officially confirmed pending medical examiner verification, law enforcement sources suggest that the victim is likely Charles Jones.

Amid the celebration, social media updates from Jones’ account unveiled a lively pool party at an Airbnb followed by a birthday bash at Teasers, a local gentlemen’s club in Tampa. Jones, affiliated with the KTA gang in Jacksonville, has a turbulent past marked by run-ins with the law and involvement in gang-related feuds, notably with the ATK gang.

Earlier incidents involving Jones include a 2023 arrest for possession of a firearm and a 2021 shooting in Jacksonville where Jones claimed to be targeted while in a recording studio. This unfortunate event echoes a history of violence and rivalry within Jacksonville’s music scene that has, at times, turned deadly.

Following the shooting, the police have launched an active investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic event. As the community mourns the loss of Julio Foolio, tributes and messages of condolence flood social media platforms, expressing shock and sorrow over the rapper’s untimely departure.