Julio Foolio Murder Suspect Tied to Previous Attempt on Rapper’s Life

In a major development in the case of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio‘s murder, 18-year-old Sean Gathright, the main suspect, has now been linked to a previous attempt on the rapper’s life back in October 2023.

According to News4Jax, investigators discovered shell casings in Gathright’s possession that matched those from the October shooting, where Foolio was shot in the foot. Gathright was apprehended during a traffic stop as part of the ongoing investigation into Foolio’s tragic death on June 23. During the stop, police found a 9mm pistol, a rifle, and nine spent cartridge casings, which they believe are connected to two previous shootings: a May 2024 homicide and the October 2023 attack on Foolio.

A subsequent search of Gathright’s home revealed a brass catcher, a device used to prevent shell casings from being left at crime scenes, further tying him to the crimes. Authorities believe Gathright was the shooter in Foolio’s murder, but he wasn’t acting alone.

Three others—Isaiah Chance, his girlfriend Alicia Andrews, and Rashad Murphy—have also been arrested in connection with the murder, while police are actively searching for a fifth suspect, Davion Murray. Investigators claim that all five suspects traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa, tracking Foolio as he celebrated his 26th birthday before carrying out the fatal attack.

Foolio was gunned down while sitting in a car in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn on June 23. Two other passengers in the vehicle were injured but survived the attack.

There have been longstanding tensions between Julio Foolio and fellow rapper Yungeen Ace, leading to speculation about the motive behind the murder. However, police have confirmed that Yungeen Ace is not under active investigation in connection with Foolio’s death. The feud between the two rappers, along with their respective crews KTA and ATK, dates back to 2017 after the murder of Foolio’s cousin, which sparked a violent retaliation that continues to this day.

Before the October 2023 shooting, Foolio had already survived two other attempts on his life in 2020 and 2021.