Four men have been found guilty in the 2024 killing of Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones.
On Friday, a jury convicted Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the fatal shooting outside a Holiday Inn hotel in Tampa. Julio was celebrating his 26th birthday at the time of the attack.
Three other people were injured during the shooting.
Prosecutors argued the killing stemmed from an “ongoing gang war” connected to Jacksonville. According to the state, the men began planning the attack after Julio shared Instagram posts promoting his birthday events in Tampa.
During trial proceedings, prosecutors presented surveillance footage, cellphone records, and shell casing evidence linking the suspects to the shooting.
A jury in Tampa, Florida, today convicted four men of murdering rival gang member and prominent Jacksonville rapper Charles "Julio Foolio" Jones.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) May 8, 2026
Sean Gathright, Isaiah Chance, and cousins Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy could be sentenced to death when jurors return on Monday. pic.twitter.com/YFY28sJ1yV
Assistant State Attorney Michelle Doherty told jurors that Chance and Alicia Andrews allegedly tracked the rapper and his group throughout the night at local clubs before the shooting occurred. Andrews, identified as Chance’s girlfriend, was previously convicted of manslaughter in October 2025.
Authorities alleged that Gathright and the Murphy brothers later opened fire on Julio and his entourage outside the hotel.
On day 9 of the Julio foolio murder trial the prosecutors showed jurors footage of one of the suspects (Sean Gathright) trying to escape from the interrogation room through a ceiling vent after his arrest pic.twitter.com/VowDZLE7Hn
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) May 6, 2026
Following the verdict, State Attorney Suzy Lopez said, “This guilty verdict delivers accountability and justice for Charles Jones’ family.”
Because first-degree murder is a capital felony in Florida, all four men now face either life in prison or the death penalty. The penalty phase of the trial is scheduled to begin on Monday.
