How Rapper Julio Foolio Was Shot Dead While Celebrating His 26th Birthday
Rapper Julio Foolio was fatally shot in Tampa, Florida, according to his lawyer.
Authorities reported that four individuals were struck by gunfire in a hotel parking lot early Sunday morning. One of the victims, believed to be Foolio pending confirmation, died at the scene.
The 26-year-old, whose real name was Charles Jones, was identified by his legal representatives in a statement.
Julio Foolio was celebrating his birthday when the tragic incident occurred, stated his lawyer, Lewis Fusco.
Fusco explained that the rapper was “reportedly ambushed” in the hotel parking lot. Foolio had recently relocated after being asked to leave an Airbnb due to exceeding occupancy limits.
On Instagram, Foolio had shared updates about his birthday celebrations, mentioning that police had “shut us down.”
The shooting, which happened around 04:40 EDT (09:40 BST), also resulted in damage to two vehicles. The three other injured individuals were hospitalized and are in stable condition.
Julio Foolio, who had nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify, was best known for his track “Voo Doo.”
In an April Instagram post, he described recent months as “tragic,” referencing “multiple attempts on my life.” Local media noted that he was open about his gang affiliations.
The police are seeking any information from the public that could aid their investigation.
