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Julio Foolio case reaches stunning climax tonight as jury finds all 4 men guilty of first-degree murder. The verdict comes after nearly four weeks of explosive testimony in Tampa. Justice finally arrives for the 26-year-old Jacksonville rapper gunned down during his birthday celebration.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Verdict: Four men found guilty of first-degree murder on May 8, 2026, after eight hours of jury deliberation
- Victim: Charles Jones, aka Julio Foolio, 26 years old, killed in Tampa parking lot on June 23, 2024
- Defendants: Isaiah Chance (23), Sean Gathright (20), Rashad Murphy (32), Davion Murphy (29)
- Penalty: Death penalty being sought by prosecutors; sentencing phase begins Monday
The Birthday Celebration That Ended in Tragedy
On June 23, 2024, rapper Julio Foolio traveled to Tampa to celebrate his 26th birthday with friends and family. Charles Jones posted on Instagram announcing his presence in the city, even mentioning he had rented an Airbnb for the festivities. Prosecutors say this social media activity sealed his fate.
According to court testimony, the four defendants began planning their coordinated mission to kill Jones after seeing those promotional posts on June 14. Gang detectives testified that Chance, Gathright, and the Murphy brothers all traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa the day before to carry out what investigators describe as a gang-related ambush.
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Julio Foolio: 4 men found guilty of first-degree murder in Tampa
Hours of Surveillance and Strategic Tracking
Prosecutors presented damning surveillance evidence showing how the suspects meticulously tracked Jones’s movements throughout the evening. Isaiah Chance and Alicia Andrews traveled in a silver Chevrolet Cruze, following him to two Tampa nightclubs while Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy, and Rashad Murphy followed in a separate Chevrolet Impala.
During closing arguments, Assistant State Attorney Michelle Doherty pointed out that Chance and Andrews never approached the nightclub bouncers or attempted entry. Their sole purpose: tracking Foolio’s location for the shooters waiting in the wings.
The Shooting and Physical Evidence
At a Holiday Inn near USF on McKinley Drive, everything converged. Prosecutors identified Sean Gathright and the Murphy brothers as the three individuals who opened fire on Jones and his companions. Surveillance video captured Foolio’s car attempting to escape before he was gunned down.
| Evidence Type | Details |
| Shell Casings | 9mm casings from Gathright’s safe matched murder scene ammunition, per JSO detectives |
| Rifle Evidence | Rifle found in Gathright’s safe deemed consistent with weapon used in killing |
| Cell Tower Data | Phone records placed Chance and Gathright at murder location |
| Modified Rifles | Suspects altered rifles to prevent shell casings from being ejected at scene |
“They never approached the bouncer, they never approached the door,” according to Assistant State Attorney Michelle Doherty during closing arguments regarding Chance and Andrews, arguing the pair was there solely to track Jones’s movements for the actual shooters.
Gang War and Celebratory Posts Point to Motive
Prosecutors painted a picture of an ongoing Jacksonville gang war that culminated in Foolio’s brutal murder in Tampa. All four defendants are alleged to be members of, or affiliated with, rival gangs competing with Jones’s crew. After the killing, prosecutors showed the jury opposing music videos from rival gang members, with lyrics that appeared to brag about the deaths of their enemies.
Most chillingly, Rashad Murphy posted celebratory messages after the shooting. Jurors saw posts featuring Tom Brady and Bill Belichick celebrating after a Super Bowl victory (clearly mocking Jones’s death), and another reading “Hate me kindly.” Surveillance video also allegedly captured Davion Murphy acting out a shooting motion while in an interrogation room.
What Happens Next in This Shocking Case?
The conviction of all four defendants for first-degree murder, a capital felony in Florida, means they now face either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have made clear they are seeking capital punishment. The penalty phase begins Monday and is expected to conclude this Friday, with jurors weighing aggravating factors (nature of the crime) against mitigating factors (prior criminal history) before making their recommendation to the judge.
Under current Florida law, a unanimous vote is not required. As of 2023, at least eight out of 12 jurors must agree on a death recommendation. A fifth suspect, Alicia Andrews, was separately tried and convicted of manslaughter in October 2025 instead of first-degree murder.
