FL v. Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, et.al.: Julio Foolio Murder Trial – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Tampa, Fla. – A jury has convicted four men of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the targeted shooting death of rising rap star Charles Jones, known professionally as Julio Foolio. The May 2026 verdict followed a lengthy trial that detailed how the defendants tracked the 26-year-old victim from Jacksonville to a Tampa hotel during his birthday celebration. Prosecutors described the attack as part of a long-running gang conflict, and the same jury will now decide whether the men receive death sentences.
The Targeted Ambush
Surveillance footage captured the gunmen exiting vehicles at a Home 2 Suites hotel and firing dozens of rounds into cars linked to Jones. Three other people were wounded in the June 23, 2024, attack. Investigators identified Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy as the shooters, while Isaiah Chance and his girlfriend Alicia Andrews served as scouts who helped locate the victim.
Jones, a documented member of the 6 Block gang, had traveled to Tampa for what was meant to be a celebratory weekend. Instead, the group was ambushed in a coordinated strike that left his Dodge Charger riddled with bullets. The medical examiner later determined that a fatal chest wound caused rapid blood loss and death.
Years of Gang Rivalry
Prosecutors tied the murder to an ongoing feud between 6 Block and rival Jacksonville groups ATK and 1200. The four convicted men belong to one of those rival factions. Social media posts, text messages and Instagram stories showed escalating tensions, including public taunts and location sharing in the days before the shooting.
Detectives testified that the defendants traveled together from Jacksonville, rented an Airbnb and used phone data to follow Jones’s movements. After the attack, the group returned to the rental before splitting up. Evidence recovered from vehicles and homes included multiple firearms, ammunition and tactical gear.
Defense Challenges at Trial
Attorneys for the defendants argued that the evidence failed to place some of their clients at the scene or prove they knew of a murder plan. One defense team claimed phone records showed Rashad Murphy never entered Tampa. Another asserted that Isaiah Chance had no gang ties and that no forensic links tied him to the weapons or clothing.
Family members took the stand during the trial to describe the defendants as caring relatives who had faced difficult upbringings. Psychologists and neurologists testified about learning disabilities, low IQ scores and past head trauma for some of the men. The jury ultimately rejected those arguments after more than seven hours of deliberation.
Penalty Phase Begins Monday
The same jurors will return to hear evidence on whether the men should receive the death penalty. Florida law allows capital punishment for first-degree murder convictions when aggravating factors, such as the gang-related nature of the crime, are proven.
Andrews, Chance’s girlfriend, was convicted earlier in a separate proceeding for her role in the case. Her sentencing has been delayed by an appeals court ruling on judicial bias. Prosecutors have appealed that decision.
The convictions close a high-profile chapter in a case that drew national attention to the deadly intersection of rap culture and street violence in Florida. The penalty hearings will determine whether the four men spend the rest of their lives in prison or face execution.
