Arrests Made in Connection to the Murder of Jacksonville Rapper Foolio
TAMPA, Fla. — In a joint press conference held Monday, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw announced the arrests of three alleged gang members connected to the shooting death of Jacksonville rapper Foolio. Foolio, born Charles Jones II, was tragically killed in the parking lot of a Tampa hotel on June 23rd, shortly after celebrating his 26th birthday.
The Tampa Police Department received a 911 call about the shooting at approximately 4:40 a.m., reporting that three other individuals were also injured in the incident. Foolio had initially rented an Airbnb for his birthday celebrations but had to relocate to a hotel due to overcrowding at the rental property.
Chief Bercaw revealed that Foolio had posted his location on social media multiple times throughout the night, which allowed the suspects to follow him from place to place. “This shows the lengths that these individuals were willing to go through and achieve this murder,” Bercaw stated.
According to Bercaw, at around 4:15 a.m., the suspects tracked Foolio to a Holiday Inn but did not immediately follow him into the parking lot. Instead, they staged across the street. At 4:38 a.m., three shooters exited a vehicle armed with a handgun and two rifles, walked into the hotel parking lot, and opened fire, killing Foolio. The three other victims hit by bullets survived.
The police department released footage of the shooting, which has been made available to the public.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested Sean Gathright, 18, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Isaiah Chance Jr., 21. They have been charged with first-degree murder. Warrants have been issued for two other suspects, Davion Murphy, 27, and Rashad Murphy, 30, who are also facing first-degree murder charges.
Bercaw stated that the three shooters—Gathright, Davion Murphy, and Rashad Murphy—are affiliated with the “ATK” and “1200” gangs, known rivals of Foolio’s “6 block” gang. The collaboration between the ATK and 1200 gangs was believed to be aimed at eliminating Foolio.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez expressed her alarm over the meticulous planning involved in Foolio’s death. “Let me be clear, the feud stops here,” Lopez declared. “All five of these defendants are facing life in the Florida state prison, even the ones that didn’t pull the trigger.”
When questioned about whether the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating Yungeen Ace, the leader of the ATK gang, Sheriff Waters responded, “We don’t have an investigation on him right now, but he can’t move around in Jacksonville without us knowing about it.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to search for the two suspects still at large. This case highlights the severe and deadly consequences of gang rivalries, prompting law enforcement to take decisive action to prevent further violence.
