The sudden death of rapper Charles Jones, known by his stage name Julio Foolio, has left the rap community in a state of shock. The artist was fatally shot in the early hours of Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. The 26-year-old was celebrating his birthday when the fatal incident occurred, resulting in injuries for three others.
Authorities were alerted to the incident at the Holiday Inn on McKinley Drive, Tampa, at approximately 4:40 a.m. following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, the police found Jones and three other victims in the hotel’s parking lot. Jones was declared dead at the scene, while the other injured parties were transported to a local hospital in stable condition. An employee of the hotel described a scene of chaos, as the rapper was targeted and shot at, with bullets hitting the building and pillars and shattering a window.
Jones was in the midst of celebrating his birthday, as evident from his Instagram posts. Earlier in the day, he had hosted a pool party at an Airbnb, which was shut down by the police due to overcrowding. “Best birthday everrrr 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 appreciate everybody who pulled up we turnt up till we couldn’t nomo,” Jones had posted just hours before his untimely death. After the Airbnb party was closed, the celebration was moved to the Holiday Inn where the shooting occurred.
Confirmation of Jones’ death was provided by his attorney, Lewis Fusco, who requested privacy for the grieving family. “He was celebrating a milestone in his life, only to have it cut short by senseless violence,” Fusco said.
Jones, who had nearly a million followers on Instagram and a similar number of monthly listeners on Spotify, was no stranger to violence. His Instagram posts often mentioned surviving multiple attempts on his life, and his music depicted the harsh realities of gang conflicts and street life in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.
The Jacksonville native was a recognized figure in the drill rap scene, a subgenre known for its realistic depiction of urban violence. He was affiliated with the Jacksonville gang KTA (Kill Them All), which has been engaged in a long-standing feud with rival gang ATK (Aces Top Killers). ATK’s most famous member is rapper Yungeen Ace.
The feud between KTA and ATK has resulted in several violent incidents, including a 2018 shooting that injured Yungeen Ace and killed three others, including his brother. Foolio used social media to glorify these killings, further fueling the animosity between the two groups. The shooting in Tampa adds to a growing list of violent incidents involving Jacksonville’s drill rap scene.
The police are currently investigating the shooting, with no arrests made so far. Due to the potential for retaliatory violence as a result of ongoing feuds among local rap groups, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been addressing the incident.
Sheriff T.K. Waters stated at a Monday news conference that the sheriff’s office is closely monitoring rival groups within the city. “They know who they are,” he said.
