Tampa, FL — Early Sunday morning in Tampa, rising Jacksonville rapper Charles Andrew Jones II, popularly known as Julio Foolio, was fatally shot in a Holiday Inn parking lot across from the University of South Florida. The incident occurred while Jones was celebrating his 26th birthday.
The birthday festivities, heavily promoted on social media, initially took place at an Airbnb, but due to overcrowding, the gathering was moved to the nearby hotel. According to Jones’ attorney, Lewis Fusco, upon moving the celebration location, the rapper was tragically “ambushed” outside the hotel.
Tampa police responded to a 911 call made at approximately 4:40 a.m. at 11606 McKinley Drive, where they discovered two vehicles peppered with bullet holes. Four individuals were injured during the early morning shootout, with one confirmed fatality, identified as Jones. The three other victims were transported to a local hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
This incident marks the 19th mass shooting in Florida this year and was one of 11 that occurred nationwide over the same weekend, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Jones, a self-proclaimed independent artist, had garnered attention with his track “Dirty Sticks,” a collaboration with fellow artist Soulja K, and for his partnership on the mixtape “6Toven” with renowned producer Zaytoven in July 2018. His music often drew from personal tragedy, including the enforced reflection on the deaths of 15 friends before his 20th birthday, with Jones using his lyrics as a form of processing his grief and trauma.
His career was also marked by a public and violent feud with rival rapper Yungeen Ace, which escalated the existing tensions between their respective affiliated groups KTA and ATK within Jacksonville. This rivalry had previously spiraled into deadly violence, including multiple shootings involving members and associates of the two factions.
Jones frequently referenced his adversities in his music and on social media, once noting that his continued survival through multiple attempts on his life was almost miraculous. In one of his last Instagram posts, he reflected on the recurring themes of loss and survival that permeated both his life and music.
Police have yet to release descriptions of the suspect or suspects involved in the shooting. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to piece together the events leading to this tragic incident, exploring both forensic evidence and witness statements gathered at the scene.
As the community reels from this violent act, the music industry mourns the loss of a young artist whose potential was cut tragically short under the harsh spotlight of ongoing urban violence and personal vendettas, underscoring a broader national struggle with gun violence and its ripple effects across communities.