The rap community is mourning the loss of Charles Jones, known by his stage name Julio Foolio, who was fatally shot early Sunday morning, June 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. The 26-year-old rapper was celebrating his birthday when the incident occurred, leaving three others injured.
Tampa police were called to the Holiday Inn on McKinley Drive around 4:40 a.m. after reports of gunfire. Officers discovered Jones and three other victims in the parking lot. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, while the others were taken to a local hospital in stable condition. Crime scene tape surrounded a black car riddled with at least a dozen bullet holes. A hotel worker described the chaos, noting how the man was ambushed and shot at, with bullets ricocheting off the building and pillars, even busting one of the hotel windows.
Foolio had been documenting his birthday festivities on Instagram, including a pool party at an Airbnb that was shut down by police for exceeding occupancy limits. “Best birthday everrrr 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 appreciate everybody who pulled up we turnt up till we couldn’t nomo,” Jones posted hours before his death. After being asked to leave the Airbnb, Jones relocated the party to the Holiday Inn, where he was ambushed.
Jones’ lawyer, Lewis Fusco, confirmed his death and requested privacy for the family. “He was celebrating a milestone in his life, only to have it cut short by senseless violence,” Fusco stated.
Foolio, who had nearly one million followers on Instagram and about the same number of monthly listeners on Spotify, was no stranger to violence. In an April Instagram post, he mentioned surviving multiple attempts on his life. His music often reflected the harsh realities of street life and gang conflicts in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Jacksonville native rose to prominence in the drill rap scene, a subgenre known for its gritty portrayal of urban violence. Foolio was associated with the Jacksonville gang KTA (Kill Them All), which has been involved in a long-standing feud with the rival gang ATK (Aces Top Killers), whose most prominent member is rapper Yungeen Ace.
The rivalry between KTA and ATK has resulted in numerous violent incidents over the years, including a 2018 retaliatory shooting that left Yungeen Ace injured and three others, including his brother, dead. Foolio later glorified the killings on social media, further escalating tensions between the groups. The Tampa shooting marks the latest chapter in a disturbing trend of violence among Jacksonville’s drill rappers.
The police are investigating the incident and working to identify those involved, though no arrests have been made yet. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has also been alerted due to the potential for retaliatory violence stemming from the ongoing feuds between local rap factions.