TAMPA, Fla. — Tragic news struck the music community early Sunday morning as Florida rapper Julio Foolio was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Tampa hotel. According to Tampa police, the incident took place at approximately 4:40 a.m. at the Holiday Inn on Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive. At this time, no arrests have been made.
Public information officer Joneé Lewis provided preliminary details, stating that two cars were targeted in the shooting. One individual, identified as Charles Jones, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene. However, a positive identification is pending confirmation by the medical examiner. Three additional individuals sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals. Authorities believe the victims were attempting to secure a hotel room when the shooting occurred.
The investigation is ongoing, with officers currently reviewing surveillance footage to gather more information about the incident. They are also assisting hotel guests in navigating the scene.
While police have not officially confirmed the connection, it was revealed that Charles Jones is the legal name of Julio Foolio. The rapper’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, privately shared the unfortunate news on Instagram, mentioning that Jones died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa. She also posted a picture of Jones from that evening. In addition, Jones’ lawyer issued a statement expressing deep grief over his passing and mentioning that he had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday.
Anyone with information related to the shooting is urged to contact the Tampa police.