Florida rapper Julio Foolio has been shot dead after reportedly being ambushed in a car park.
The 26-year-old, whose real name is Charles Jones, was gunned down in the early hours of Sunday morning (June 23) in Tampa just a day after his birthday, his lawyer Lewis Fusco confirmed to NBC News. Three other victims are also said to be in a stable condition.
Before his death, the rapper had shared a story on Instagram showing him celebrating his 26th birthday with a pool party beside friends and fans at an Airbnb.
Later, he posted that police had “shut us down and kicked us out” of the property.
Earlier, he wrote: “God thank you for allowing me to see another Year & To celebrate another birthday appreciate all the birthday wishes so far.”
God thank you for allowing me to see another Year & To celebrate another birthday appreciate all the birthday wishes so far
— ESPN 98 (@Espn_Foolio) June 21, 2024
His lawyer said that “Mr. Jones had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday over the weekend.
He added: “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 are reviewing surveillance footage from the hotel but no suspects have been arrested so far.
In April, after announcing the release of his latest album, ‘Resurrection’, Jones also posted on Instagram that he had already survived “MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS ON MY LIFE.”
The rapper reportedly survived a previous attempt in 2021, when he was grazed by a bullet while at his recording studio in Jacksonville.
Jones’ cousin and three teenagers were killed in a 2018 gang-related shooting during a birthday party for his brother.
Foolio has nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify, where his top-played track is ‘Voo Doo’.
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