Julio Foolio Murder Trial Ends With 4 Men Convicted in Tampa Hotel Ambush

TAMPA — The murder case surrounding Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio has now reached one of its biggest turning points, with four men convicted in the deadly ambush that prosecutors say was planned, tracked, and carried out as part of a long-running Jacksonville gang rivalry.

Julio Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones, was killed on June 23, 2024, while he was in Tampa celebrating his 26th birthday. What started as a birthday weekend turned into a deadly setup after investigators say his movements were followed across the city before gunmen finally opened fire in a hotel parking lot near the University of South Florida.

The four men convicted in the case are Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy. A Tampa jury found all four guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The verdict came after prosecutors argued that the group traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa with one goal: to find Jones and kill him.

Prosecutors said the killing was not random. They described it as a calculated attack tied to years of violence, online disrespect, drill rap taunts, and retaliation connected to rival groups in Jacksonville. Jones was publicly known as a member of 6 Block, while prosecutors tied the defendants to rival groups connected to ATK and 1200.

The state’s case focused heavily on surveillance footage, phone data, text messages, and the movements of the defendants before and after the shooting. Prosecutors said the group followed Jones and his crew through multiple locations in Tampa after Jones had publicly shared details about his birthday plans online.

Earlier in the night, Jones and others had reportedly been staying at an Airbnb, but authorities said the group had to leave after violating occupancy rules. After that, Jones relocated to a hotel. Prosecutors said that move did not stop the suspects. Instead, they continued tracking him until they found the vehicle he was in.

The ambush happened in the parking lot outside a hotel. Prosecutors said multiple armed men moved in and opened fire as Jones and others tried to escape. The attack left Jones dead and three other people injured. His vehicle was later found riddled with bullet holes.

Investigators said the gunmen continued firing even as the vehicle attempted to pull away. Prosecutors argued that the number of shots, the coordination between the suspects, and the way they followed Jones through Tampa showed this was a planned execution, not a spontaneous confrontation.

Alicia Andrews, who was dating Isaiah Chance at the time, was also tied to the case. She traveled with the group from Jacksonville to Tampa and was tried separately. In October 2025, she was found guilty of manslaughter, though she was acquitted of conspiracy to commit murder. Her defense argued she did not know the full murder plot, while prosecutors said her phone records placed her with the group as Jones was being tracked.

The trial of the four men became a detailed breakdown of how investigators believe the ambush came together. Prosecutors showed jurors surveillance videos, cell phone location data, and messages they said proved the defendants were moving as a coordinated team. The state argued that each person played a role, whether by helping track Jones, traveling with the group, or directly participating in the shooting.

The defense teams attacked the case from several angles. Some argued prosecutors were relying too much on assumptions and not enough on direct proof. Others pointed out that Jones had many enemies because of his music, gang ties, and social media history. They argued that just because the defendants were connected to the same circles did not automatically prove each one helped carry out the murder.

One major issue during the trial was identification. Defense attorneys questioned whether the state could clearly prove who was who in the surveillance footage. They also challenged parts of the investigation, pointing to gaps such as limited forensic evidence and unanswered questions about certain locations, phones, and vehicles.

But the jury ultimately sided with prosecutors. After hearing weeks of testimony, the panel convicted Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The jury also convicted Gathright and the Murphy brothers of attempted second-degree murder for the people injured in the attack. Jurors also made special findings that Chance and the Murphy brothers were tied to criminal gang activity.

Now, the case has moved into the penalty phase. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for all four men. That means the same jury that convicted them is now being asked to decide whether each defendant should be sentenced to death or life in prison.

During the penalty phase, Sean Gathright took the stand and addressed the jury directly. He said he was not there to dispute what happened, but to take responsibility and express remorse. He described the situation as terrible and traumatic as his attorneys tried to convince jurors to spare his life.

The case has become one of the most closely watched rapper murder trials in Florida because it connects music, social media, real-world violence, and a long-running street feud that prosecutors say eventually spilled out of Jacksonville and into Tampa.

For years, Julio Foolio’s name was tied to Jacksonville’s violent rap scene, where songs, videos, and online posts often referenced real murders, dead rivals, and ongoing beefs. Prosecutors said that culture of retaliation played a major role in why Jones was targeted.

But beyond the rap image, his family has pushed for people to remember him as Charles Jones, a son and young man whose life ended in a parking lot during what was supposed to be a birthday celebration.

With the convictions secured, the case is no longer about whether the four men are guilty. Now, the question is how they will be punished.

If the jury recommends death and the judge follows that recommendation, the case could send all four men to Florida’s death row. If not, they could face life in prison.

Either way, prosecutors say the verdict delivered accountability for a killing they described as planned, ruthless, and gang-driven.