Florida rapper Julio Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones, was killed in a shooting at a Tampa Holiday Inn early Sunday morning. The incident occurred at around 4:40 a.m. in the parking lot of the hotel, located at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.
According to Tampa police, two cars were shot at, and one person was killed at the scene. Three other gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals, where they are expected to survive their injuries. The deceased person was initially believed to be a 26-year-old man, but the medical examiner has yet to release a positive identification.
Witnesses reported that the shooting started at the Home2 Suites by Hilton next to the Holiday Inn, where bullet holes and a window were found boarded up. Police believe the victims were at the hotel trying to get a room at the time of the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing, with officers reviewing surveillance video and searching for additional footage to identify potential suspects. No arrests have been made.
Julio Foolio’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, posted the news of his death on Instagram, stating that he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa. The rapper’s Instagram story showed that he was celebrating his birthday with a pool party at a Tampa Airbnb before being asked to leave due to exceeding occupancy limits. He subsequently relocated to the Holiday Inn, where the shooting occurred.
Foolio’s lawyer released a statement confirming his death, stating that he had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday and was involved in an incident in the hotel parking lot. The rapper had previously been injured in shootings in 2020 and 2023.
Anyone with information related to the shooting is encouraged to call Tampa police at 813-231-6130.
