Rapper Foolio shot and killed on 26th birthday

Hip-hop artist was tragically shot and killed at his 26th birthday party in Tampa.

The hip-hop community is mourning the loss of Jacksonville rapper Foolio, who was reportedly shot and killed during his 26th birthday celebration. 

According to local authorities, the incident occurred in Tampa, Florida on Sunday morning. Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was celebrating with a pool party at an Airbnb, as seen on his Instagram Stories. When the party was shut down by police, it moved to another location, reportedly a Holiday Inn, where the shooting took place. 

Authorities stated, "All we know at this point is around 4:40 this morning, we received a 911 call about a shooting in a parking lot on McKinley & Fowler. Two cars were shot at, and four people were shot in total. Three were transported to hospitals, and one was pronounced deceased at the scene." Reports indicate that the other two injured individuals are expected to survive.

BREAKING NEWS!!! RAPPER JULIO FOOLIO SHOT & KILLED IN TAMPA,FL pic.twitter.com/ComLP8dgUV

— SHO’NUFF (@IAMSHO_NUFF) June 23, 2024

Foolio, born June 21, 1998, was a rising star in the hip-hop world. He gained fame in 2018 with his hit single “Coming Up” and was closely affiliated with the hip-hop collective KTA. Despite facing legal issues and past shooting incidents, he cultivated a significant following, boasting over 900,000 Instagram followers and around 604,000 YouTube subscribers.

RIP Julio Foolio

The rapper was killed while celebrating his birthday party in Tampa 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/wsA0UegylH

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) June 23, 2024

This tragic incident adds to the challenges Foolio faced throughout his career. In 2019, his younger brother, Adrian Dennard, was also fatally shot. Foolio’s music, including tracks like “Dead Opps” and “Bibby Story,” has resonated with many fans, who are now left to grapple with the loss of a talented artist.