4 arrested in slaying of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio

Three men and a woman have been arrested on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Charles Jones , a Jacksonville rapper known as Julio Foolio,” outside a hotel in Tampa.

Police are still searching for one more suspect in the ambush-style shooting June 23 outside the Home2 Suites, which occurred as Jones was celebrating his 26th birthday, police say.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw announced three of the arrests at a news conference Monday, joined by Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters.

Bercaw said Jones had been telling people on social media where he was that night.

“Surveillance video was critical in this investigation, as suspects were seen on video, following Jones from location to location,” Bercaw said. “This shows the lengths that these individuals were willing to go through and achieve that this murder would occur.”

Arrested over the weekend were Alicia Latoya Andrews and Isaiah Jermaine Chance, both 21, and Sean Andre Gathright, 18, according to Duval County jail records. All three will be extradited to Tampa to face charges. Two other men are being sought — Rashad Murphy, 30, and Davion Murphy, 27– police said. They will also face murder charges, Bercaw said.

A fourth person, Rashad Murphy, 30, was arrested Tuesday at the Collins Preserve apartments on Collins Road.

Tampa and Jacksonville investigators worked together on the case, Waters said.

“With their arrests, we show Tampa, Jacksonville and the rest of this state that we hold violent criminals accountable,” Waters said. “I want to speak directly to those who chose violence and those who embrace a culture that glorifies violence. Florida, Tampa. JSO/Jacksonville, Miami – wherever you are, we will not tolerate foolishness, shooting and needless violence.”

Jones was staying at an Airbnb on June 22, but his group was told to leave because there were too many people there, his attorney told Jacksonville Today news partner News4Jax. Jones posted that on Instagram, including where it was, his attorney said last month.

Bercaw said surveillance video showed investigators what happened next, as Jones drove away toward the Home2 Suites.

A suspect vehicle is seen following the car Jones was in, then parking across the street, Bercaw said, showing the video to reporters. Then just after 4:30 a.m., three people get out of the car and walk toward the hotel.

“They murder Jones with a handgun and two rifles. This barrage of gunfire also struck three additional victims, who miraculously survived this incident,” Bercaw said. “You can see the shooters are getting into position for their planned-out murder. They are shooting at Charles now, and you can see that he is the passenger in that car that is moving and trying to flee.”

Waters and Tampa’s police chief confirmed that those involved in the shooting are affiliated with Jacksonville gangs. They worked together to target Jones as part of an ongoing feud with another gang the rapper was connected to, Bercaw said.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office video shows Gathright being arrested outside a shopping center, while SWAT officers surround a home where Chance and Andrews are. Over a loudspeaker, a SWAT officer is heard telling Chance that they had a warrant for his arrest and “we are not going away.”

“Hands up. Hands up!,” they yell at Chance as he walks out the front door in a pouring rain.

The video also shows Andrews, in handcuffs, being walked into the Sheriff’s Office.

Andrews and Chance also were charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder. Gathright’s additional charges are attempted premeditated murder and tampering with evidence, police said.

Jones had survived two other shootings in the past three years in Jacksonville.

Anyone with information in this ongoing investigation is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130 or contact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-8477 (TIPS).

This story was updated July 30, 2024, with a fourth arrest.

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