If you’ve spent any time on Florida rap Twitter or followed the Jacksonville drill scene, the name Charles Jones—better known as Julio Foolio—was impossible to ignore. He was the guy who seemed to have nine lives. After surviving multiple shootings that would have ended anyone else, it felt, to some fans at least, like he was almost invincible. But that streak hit a brick wall in the early hours of a summer morning in Tampa.
Honestly, the internet was a mess that day. People were refreshing feeds, looking for a "fake news" debunking that never came. If you're looking for the specifics of when did julio foolio die, the answer is Sunday, June 23, 2024. He was only 26 years old.
The timing of it was particularly heavy. He had just spent the weekend celebrating his birthday. He was supposed to be enjoying the peak of his career. Instead, he ended up at the center of one of the most documented and sophisticated "hits" in recent hip-hop history.
The Night Everything Changed in Tampa
The events leading up to the shooting feel like a script from a crime drama. Foolio was in Tampa to celebrate his 26th birthday (which was actually June 21). He’d been posting his locations on Instagram all weekend—pool parties, clubs, the whole thing. Security experts always say "don't post your location in real-time," but in the world of drill rap, showing you're "outside" is a point of pride.
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He was staying at an Airbnb initially, but the party got too loud. Police eventually shut it down because of the crowd size. This forced Foolio and his crew to find a hotel last minute. They headed to a Holiday Inn (some reports also mentioned the nearby Home2 Suites) on McKinley Drive, right near the University of South Florida.
Around 4:40 AM on June 23, as Foolio and his associates were in the parking lot, the ambush began.
It wasn't a random robbery. It was a tactical strike. Three gunmen, allegedly armed with a pistol and AR-style rifles, opened fire on two vehicles. The shooters were prepared; they even used "brass catchers" on their rifles to make sure they didn't leave shell casings behind for the cops to find. Foolio was hit multiple times while sitting in a car and died at the scene. Three other people were wounded but survived.
The Investigation: More Than Just a Street Fight
For a few weeks, things went quiet. Then, the Tampa Police Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office dropped the hammer. This wasn't just a couple of guys with a grudge. This was a cross-county operation involving five people who allegedly drove from Jacksonville to Tampa specifically to kill him.
According to prosecutors, this was the boiling point of the years-long feud between Foolio's crew, 6 Block, and rival groups ATK (Ace’s Top Killers) and 1200.
Who was involved?
By early 2026, the legal system had processed several of the defendants. Here is who the authorities identified:
- Isaiah Chance and Alicia Andrews: Prosecutors say they were the "scouts." They followed Foolio from the club to the hotel and tipped off the shooters.
- Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy: These are the three men identified by police as the shooters who pulled the triggers in that parking lot.
In late 2025, Alicia Andrews was actually the first to go to trial. A jury found her guilty of manslaughter in October. It was a huge moment because it showed the state was willing to go after anyone involved in the planning, not just the people holding the guns. The other four men are currently looking at trials in April 2026, and the state is seeking the death penalty for the alleged shooters.
Why This Case Stunned the Music World
You've got to understand the "drill" culture to see why this hit so hard. In Jacksonville, the music isn't just about rhythm; it’s basically a localized news broadcast of a war. Foolio’s most famous song, "When I See You," was a direct response to his rivals' track "Who I Smoke." He literally filmed the video at a cemetery.
When news broke about when did julio foolio die, it felt like the end of an era for that specific subgenre. Sheriff TK Waters in Jacksonville has been very vocal about this, essentially saying that the music fueled the violence and the violence fueled the music.
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What’s crazy is how much digital evidence the cops found. We’re talking about Instagram follows, GPS data from phones, and even license plate readers that tracked the suspects' cars from Jacksonville all the way to Tampa. It’s a reminder that in 2026, there’s no such thing as a "clean" getaway when everyone has a supercomputer in their pocket.
Misconceptions and Rumors
The internet is great for info, but it’s even better for lies. After June 23, 2024, people started claiming Foolio was still alive, or that it was a staged PR stunt for a new album. Some people even pointed to "new" posts on his Instagram as proof.
Basically, it was just his social media team or family keeping his accounts active to promote his legacy. There is no mystery here. The medical examiner’s report confirmed he died from gunshot wounds to the torso, specifically hitting his heart and lungs. It’s a grim reality, but he is buried at Edgewood Cemetery in Florida.
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What’s Next for the Case?
If you're following the legal side, 2026 is going to be a massive year. The trials for the Murphy brothers and Isaiah Chance are expected to dominate the headlines in Florida.
Actionable Insight: How to follow the updates
- Watch the Court TV archives: If you want to see the evidence for yourself, the Alicia Andrews trial was fully televised. It gives a terrifying look at how the ambush was coordinated using basic smartphone apps.
- Monitor Hillsborough County court records: This is where the official trial dates for the remaining suspects will be posted.
- Listen to the music with context: Understanding the lyrics now feels different knowing the real-world consequences that followed.
The story of Julio Foolio is a tragic one about a talented kid who couldn't—or wouldn't—separate himself from the environment that made him famous. Whether you loved his music or hated his lyrics, his death changed the landscape of Florida rap forever. There’s no more "what if" or "when." The date is set in stone: June 23, 2024.