The four men convicted of killing Jacksonville rapper Foolio outside of a Tampa hotel in 2024 were sentenced Monday in Hillsborough County Court.
Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy and Rashad Murphy were all sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Foolio’s murder, whose real name was Charles Jones.
Under Florida law, the life sentence was mandatory for a first-degree murder charge.
Jurors recommended life in prison without parole in May for the four men, opting not to recommend the death penalty.
Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy and Rashad Murphy were all found guilty of the rapper’s murder Friday, May 8. Because prosecutors sought the death penalty, which is allowed in first-degree murder cases in Florida, jurors were tasked with deciding whether the four men should receive life in prison or the death penalty.
Foolio was celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa on June 23, 2024, when he was ambushed and shot and killed outside a Holiday Inn hotel. Three others were wounded in the shooting.
Prosecutors said the rapper’s murder is part of an “ongoing gang war” in Jacksonville.
Prosecutors said Chance, Gathright and the Murphys began planning their “coordinated mission” to kill Jones when he posted flyers to Instagram on June 14, 2024, promoting that he would be in Tampa for his birthday.
During the penalty phase of the trial, Gathright testified that he felt “very remorseful,” and told jurors he took the stand to take responsibility.
“To the victim’s family, I want to send my deepest condolences,” Gathright said. “I understand that it’s hard losing a child, a best friend, a brother, a cousin, and for that, I just cannot say sorry enough. I feel terrible about the situation.”
Gathright later testified saying, “The streets are not the way.”