“His journey was marked by resilience and a deep desire to strive for greatness,” wrote the late rapper’s lawyer
Julio Foolio/Instagram
Rapper Julio Foolio
A Florida rapper was shot dead while celebrating his 26th birthday over the weekend, his lawyer said.
On Sunday, June 23, Julio Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was pronounced dead after he was allegedly “ambushed” in a Holiday Inn parking lot, his attorney Lewis Fusco said in a statement obtained by local news outlet First Coast News. The artist had rented an Airbnb earlier in the day for a pool party but was later asked to leave “because occupancy limits were exceeded,” Fusco said.
Tampa police received 911 calls about a shooting at 11606 McKinley Drive around 4:40 a.m. local time on Sunday, police said in a news release.
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Police siren – archive image
Officers found “two vehicles that had been shot at” during the attack and four people were injured in the shooting, police said.
Three people were in stable condition and one person was pronounced dead. Tampa police did not identify the deceased person, adding, “Positive identification is pending confirmation from the medical examiner.” PEOPLE has reached out to Tampa police for comment.
Although police said the victim’s identity was “pending confirmation by the medical examiner,” Jones’ attorney confirmed in statements to First Coast News and the New York Times.
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“Mr. Jones was in Tampa over the weekend to celebrate his birthday. Police reports indicate he initially stayed at an Airbnb but was asked to leave because occupancy limits were exceeded. He then moved to the Holiday Inn where he was involved in an incident in the hotel parking lot and was reportedly assaulted,” Fusco said, according to First Coast News.
Julio Foolio/Instagram
Rapper Julio Foolio
In an Instagram Stories post on Sunday, Fusco expressed his condolences, adding that the rapper had often been misunderstood.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of Foolio’s passing,” Fusco wrote. “While most people knew him as a controversial rapper and entertainer, I was fortunate to know Charles Jones, the man beyond the public persona.”
Julio Foolio/Instagram
Rapper Julio Foolio
“He was a child who grew up in difficult circumstances and was determined to defy the odds by any means necessary and to succeed in everything he did. His path was marked by resilience and a deep-rooted desire to strive for greatness,” he said.
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Fusco described Jones as “someone I deeply respected for his authenticity and considered a friend.”
In one of his final social media posts, Jones tweeted on Friday, June 21, “God thank you for letting me live to see another year and celebrate another birthday. I appreciate all the birthday wishes so far.”
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In the days before the fatal shooting, Jones shared his upcoming birthday plans with his 1.1 million Instagram followers.
“My AirBnB pool party in Tampa, Florida on June 21st (DM me for the address) and my official birthday party on June 22nd at Club Teasers,” he wrote in a June 14 post, adding the address of the second venue.
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