TAMPA, Fla. — Four men have learned their fate following the 2024 killing of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio, after a Florida jury found them guilty of first-degree murder in a coordinated ambush that prosecutors say was tied to an ongoing gang conflict.
Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy were convicted after a multi-day trial centered on the June 23, 2024 shooting in Tampa, where Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones, was fatally shot while celebrating his 26th birthday.
According to prosecutors, Foolio was tracked from Jacksonville to Tampa and targeted in a planned attack outside a hotel near the University of South Florida.
Evidence presented in court included surveillance footage, cellphone data, and witness testimony that allegedly showed the group coordinating the ambush and opening fire in a hotel parking lot as Foolio attempted to flee in a vehicle.
Investigators said the shooting was part of an ongoing violent feud involving rival groups, and prosecutors argued the defendants acted together in a premeditated plan to kill the rapper.
Court records and testimony described the attack as a coordinated effort involving multiple shooters and vehicles.
After deliberating for several hours, the jury returned guilty verdicts on first-degree murder and conspiracy charges.
Jurors also found aggravating factors in the case, including the planned and coordinated nature of the attack.
Following the verdict, prosecutors pursued the harshest penalty allowed under Florida law. The jury ultimately recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole for all four defendants.
The sentencing phase concluded earlier this month, formally closing one of the most closely watched music-related murder cases in recent years.
Foolio, a rising Jacksonville rapper known for his drill-influenced sound and viral tracks, had previously survived multiple violent incidents before his death. His killing sparked widespread attention across the hip-hop community and renewed concerns about escalating violence tied to rap feuds.
All defendants were sentenced to life in prison.
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