The legal proceedings following the high-profile killing of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio have reached a major turning point.
On Friday, a Tampa jury found all four men on trial guilty of first-degree murder. After eight hours of deliberation, the panel convicted Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy for their roles in the 2024 shooting that took the life of the 26-year-old artist.
The verdict comes nearly two years after Julio Foolio, born Charles Jones, was gunned down in a hotel parking lot while in town to celebrate his birthday. What began as a celebration at an Airbnb ended in a coordinated ambush after the rapper was forced to relocate to a nearby hotel due to overcrowding. Prosecutors successfully argued that the defendants hunted Jones throughout the night, using social media to track his location before opening fire on his vehicle as it attempted to pull away.
Throughout the trial, the state focused on the long-standing and violent rivalry between Jacksonville gangs. Investigators linked the suspects to the ATK and 1200 factions, claiming the attack was retaliation against Jones’ own 6 Block crew. The court saw surveillance footage and heard testimony about modified rifles designed to leave no evidence behind, painting a picture of a calculated execution rather than a random act of violence.
The defense teams for the four men attempted to distance their clients from the conspiracy, arguing that the evidence, which included cell tower data and music video lyrics, was open to interpretation.
However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. Alicia Andrews, a fifth suspect who acted as a lookout, had already been found guilty of manslaughter in late 2025.
The focus now shifts to the penalty phase, which is scheduled to begin Monday. Jurors will have to decide the ultimate fate of the four convicted men, life in prison or the death penalty.
