Florida rapper Julio Foolio was fatally shot early Sunday morning, June 23, at a Tampa Holiday Inn, as reported by several sources.
According to Tampa police, the shooting happened around 4:40 a.m. in the Holiday Inn parking lot at Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.
Nearby at the Home2 Suites by Hilton, bullet holes and a boarded-up window were observed. Witnesses stated the shooting started there.
“We’ve learned that two cars were shot at, but this is still early in the investigation,” said Joneé Lewis, Tampa Police Department’s public information officer.
Lewis confirmed that one person died at the scene, and three others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The deceased is believed to be a 26-year-old man named Charles Jones, though this has not been officially confirmed by the medical examiner.
Investigators suspect the victims were attempting to book a room at the hotel when the shooting occurred.
“It seems like they will survive their injuries,” Lewis added.
Officers are examining surveillance footage to gather more details and are assisting hotel guests near the crime scene.
“I only heard one gunshot,” said hotel guest Jeremiah Claypool. “It woke me up, but apparently there were more.”
No arrests have been made yet, and officers are seeking additional video evidence to identify any suspects.
Although police have not explicitly confirmed Julio Foolio, whose legal name is Charles Jones, as the deceased, the rapper’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, announced his death on Instagram, which is now private. She mentioned he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa and posted a photo from that night.
Julio Foolio’s Instagram story showed him celebrating his birthday with a pool party at a Tampa Airbnb before being asked to leave by the police.
A statement from Jones’ lawyer released Sunday evening said:
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm Mr. Jones passed away early this morning. Mr. Jones had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday over the weekend. 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.”
