Police in Florida have arrested several people in connection with the death of a rapper who was killed in a parking lot while celebrating his 26th birthday.
According to First Coast News, the lawyer for rapper Julio Foolio, whose official name is Charles Jones, stated in June that his client was “ambushed” in a Holiday Inn parking lot in Tampa, Florida.
Tampa police have detained three persons and designated two more as suspects in the June 23 homicide.
Police arrested Alicia L. Andrews, 21, Isaiah J. Chance, 21, and Sean A. Gathright, 18, on many charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, the department reported on Monday, July 29.
Police are also looking for Rashad Murphy, 30, and Davion Murphy, 27, in connection with the killing, according to the statement.
The rapper was allegedly killed in a “targeted, gang-related killing,” according to authorities. All five suspects allegedly flew to Tampa from Jacksonville the day before the crime.
The defendants are accused of “conspiring” to kill the rapper, police said, adding that Chance and Andrews “tracked and followed the victim and his entourage to two separate locations” on the day of the murder.
Rashad Murphy (left); Davion Murphy. Tampa Police Department
Police believe that in the hotel parking lot, “three armed shooters exited a vehicle and began shooting” at Jones, killing him and injuring three others. They identified the three shooters as Rashad, Davion, and Gathright.
Police believe the crime was motivated by a rivalry between a group Jones claimed to be a part of and two other rival gangs Chance, Rashad, and Davion claim to be linked with. The statement made no mention of Andrews or Gathright’s gang membership.
According to the police statement, Andrews and Chance are charged with murder as well as conspiracy to commit murder. Gathright is also charged with attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
