Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio, real name Charles Jones II, was killed in June 2024 while visiting Tampa for his birthday.

TAMPA, Fla. — Opening statements begin Wednesday morning in the trial of four suspects accused of killing Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio in Tampa less than two years ago.

A jury has been officially seated as opening statements begin at 9 a.m. Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy and Rashad Murphy, four of the five people who allegedly targeted the rapper, whose real name is Charles Jones II, in June 2024.



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The fifth suspect, Alicia Andrews, was found guilty of manslaughter in October 2025 for helping plan the ambush that killed Foolio.

Prosecutors said she acted as a lookout, helping her boyfriend and others track Foolio’s movements the night he was shot and killed outside a Tampa Holiday Inn.

Prosecutors are preparing surveillance video, cell phone data and witness testimony for the trial.


Death of rapper Julio Foolio

Foolio was in Tampa to celebrate his birthday at an Airbnb on June 23, 2024, according to his lawyer.

However, he was asked to leave because there were too many people at the residence. He went to a Holiday Inn near the University of South Florida where he was reportedly ambushed. The 26-year-old rapper died from his injuries, and police said a total of four people were hit by gunfire.

During a news conference, law enforcement showed video surveillance footage of the shooting that shows five people dressed all in black carrying guns around the hotel, waiting for Jones. They start shooting at the car where Jones is in the passenger seat and keep shooting as the car tries to drive away.

It looks like a movie,” Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said during the 2024 news conference. “But this isn’t a movie. These are people’s real lives.”

During that news conference, Bercaw confirmed the five suspects were part of rival gangs and Jones’ murder was in retaliation to an ongoing feud. 

Chance is charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of conspiracy. Gathright is charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm, one count of conspiracy, three counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

Rashad and Davion Murphy are both charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree and three counts of attempted murder in the first degree.

Previous 10 Tampa Bay News coverage contributed to this story.