Emerging rap sensation Julio Foolio was tragically gunned down just a day after his 26th birthday celebrations began.
The artist, whose real name was Charles Jones, was killed in the early hours of Sunday, June 23 after reportedly being ambushed in a Holiday Inn parking lot in Tampa.
In a press statement released by his lawyer Lewis Fusco, it emerged that Julio decided to move the party to the hotel when his Airbnb-hosted pool bash was closed down by the cops.
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Officials confirmed his identity at the scene, also noting that three other unknown individuals sustained injuries during the incident. The others who were injured are now reportedly stable and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Who was Lil Keed and what was his cause of death?Heart-wrenchingly, a woman purporting to be Julio's partner expressed her grief on social media with the words: "Y'all took my boyfriend from me. I hate y'all I won't be the only one crying."
In an interview with News4JAX, Julio's attorney disclosed that a group had gathered to join Julio, who had celebrated entering his 26th year on Friday, for a weekend of festivities. On Saturday, Julio pumped up the excitement for the 5pm pool party on Instagram Story by inviting folks with a: "If you already got the address, pull up."
He backed up the invite with footage showing him and buddies cheers-ing with red and white cups, as well as a snippet showcasing roughly twenty people clustered in his Airbnb's living room where he thanked everyone for ringing in his 26th.
However, the celebration turned sour as he later posted: "Pol! ce shut us down and kicked us out air bnb that's crazy work."
The singer gushed about his celebrations, telling fans: "Best birthday everrr. Appreciate everybody who pulled up we turnt up till we couldn't nomo we otw to the show now yall pull up."
The incident wasn't the first time Julio had been shot at. Just eight months earlier, the Jacksonville rapper with shot at in another "ambush" style attack, while in 2021 he was also injured in a shooting.