Julio Foolio Dead, Three Wounded in Tampa Hotel Shooting

Florida rapper Julio Foolio was killed early Sunday morning in a shooting at a Tampa Holiday Inn, according to numerous sources.

Tampa police said the shooting took place at about 4:40 a.m. in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.

8 On Your Side found bullet holes and a window boarded up at Home2 Suites by Hilton next to the Holiday Inn. Witnesses said the shooting started there. “What we have learned, and this is early in the investigation, two cars were shot at,” said Joneé Lewis, public information officer for the Tampa Police Department.

Lewis said one person was killed at the scene while three other gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals. The deceased person was believed to be a man named Charles Jones, 26, but the medical examiner has yet to release a positive identification, police say.

Investigators said they believe the victims were at the hotel trying to get a room at the time of the shooting. “It seems like they will survive their injuries,” she said.

Lewis said officers are looking through surveillance video to learn more about the incident. They are also helping guide hotel guests around the scene. “I only heard one (gunshot),” hotel guest Jeremiah Claypool said. “It woke me up, but apparently there were more than that.”

At this time, no arrests have been made. Officers are looking for additional video to identify any potential suspects.

(WFLA) Charles Jones is the legal name of Julio Foolio. While police have not explicitly confirmed the connection, the 26-year-old rapper’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, posted the news of his death on Instagram, which is now private. She said he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa, posting a photo of him from that night.

The rapper’s Instagram story showed that he was celebrating his birthday with a pool party at a Tampa Airbnb before police made him relocate.

Part of a statement released Sunday evening from Jones’ lawyer read:

It is with deep sadness that we confirm Mr. Jones passed away early this morning.

Mr. Jones had been in Tampa to celebrate his birthday over the weekend. Law enforcement reports indicate that he initially stayed at an Airbnb but was asked to leave due to exceeding occupancy limits. He subsequently relocated to the Holiday Inn, wh ere he was involved in an incident in the hotel parking lot and reportedly ambushed—reported by WFLA.

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