Florida rapper Julio Foolio was shot and killed in Tampa on Sunday, just two days after celebrating his 26th birthday, according to his lawyer.
Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was staying at a Holiday Inn hotel in Tampa after being “kicked” out of an Airbnb where he was partying, when the rapper was “reportedly ambushed,” attorney Lewis Fuso said in a statement.
Before his death, Jones had shared a story on Instagram showing him celebrating his 26th birthday with a pool party beside friends and fans at an Airbnb.
The party, which had been advertised all over social media, allegedly got too rowdy, leading police to shut down the event and forcing Jones to leave, according to Fusco.
“Mr. Jones had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday over the weekend,” Fusco said.
“Law enforcement reports indicate that he initially stayed at an Airbnb but was asked to leave due to exceeding occupancy limits.
“He subsequently relocated to the Holiday Inn, where he was involved in an incident in the hotel parking lot and reportedly ambushed.”
Police said Jones and the three other victims were in their cars in the parking lot when unidetified assailants opened fire.
Officials are reviewing surveillance footage from the hotel, with no suspects arrested as of Sunday afternoon.
Jones was a known member of the Jacksonville gang KTA, which has been in a longstanding feud with rival gangs, First Coast News reports.
Jones’ cousin and three teenagers were killed in a 2018 gang-related shooting during a birthday party for Jones’ brother, according to authorities.
The rapper had a previous attempt on his life back in 2021, when he was grazed by a bullet while at his recording studio in Jacksonville, with the rapper later taunting his shooters on Instagram.
“Y’all miss a whole 100 shots literally,” Jones said of the shooting.
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