TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida rapper Julio Foolio was killed early Sunday morning in a capturing at a Tampa Vacation Inn, in accordance with quite a few sources.
Tampa police stated the capturing happened at about 4:40 a.m. within the car parking zone of the Vacation Inn on the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.
Crews with NewsNation affiliate WFLA discovered bullet holes and a window boarded up at Home2 Suites by Hilton subsequent to the Vacation Inn. Witnesses stated the capturing began there.
“What we have now realized, and that is early within the investigation, two vehicles had been shot at,” stated Joneé Lewis, public info officer for the Tampa Police Division.
Lewis stated one individual was killed on the scene whereas three different gunshot victims had been taken to native hospitals. The deceased individual was believed to be a person named Charles Jones, 26, however the medical expert has but to launch a optimistic identification, police stated.
Investigators stated they imagine the victims had been on the lodge making an attempt to get a room on the time of the capturing.
“It looks as if they may survive their accidents,” she stated.
Lewis stated officers are wanting by surveillance video to be taught extra concerning the incident. They’re additionally serving to information lodge friends across the scene.
“I solely heard one (gunshot),” lodge visitor Jeremiah Claypool stated. “It woke me up, however apparently there have been greater than that.”
Right now, no arrests have been made. Officers are in search of extra video to establish any potential suspects.
Charles Jones is the authorized identify of Julio Foolio. Whereas police haven’t explicitly confirmed the connection, the 26-year-old rapper’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, posted the information of his loss of life on Instagram, which is now non-public. She stated he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa, posting a photograph of him from that evening.
The rapper’s Instagram story confirmed that he was celebrating his birthday with a pool social gathering at a Tampa Airbnb earlier than police made him relocate.
A part of a press release launched Sunday night from Jones’ lawyer learn:
It’s with deep unhappiness that we affirm Mr. Jones handed away early this morning.
Mr. Jones had been in Tampa to rejoice his birthday over the weekend. Legislation enforcement experiences point out that he initially stayed at an Airbnb however was requested to go away attributable to exceeding occupancy limits. He subsequently relocated to the Vacation Inn, the place he was concerned in an incident within the lodge car parking zone and reportedly ambushed.
News4Jax additionally confirmed Jones’ loss of life with info from his lawyer, Lewis Fusco. WFLA has additionally known as the Fusco Legislation Group however didn’t get a response as of this report.
Earlier information experiences say Jones was injured in shootings in 2020 and 2023.
In case you have info associated to the capturing, name Tampa police at 813-231-6130.