Police in Florida have arrested several people in connection with the death of a rapper who was killed in a parking lot while celebrating his 26th birthday.
According to First Coast News, the lawyer for rapper Julio Foolio, whose official name is Charles Jones, stated in June that his client was “ambushed” in a Holiday Inn parking lot in Tampa, Florida.
Tampa police have detained three persons and designated two more as suspects in the June 23 homicide.
Police are also looking for Rashad Murphy, 30, and Davion Murphy, 27, in connection with the killing, according to the statement.
READ MORE: Video Of Julio Foolio’s Deadly Tampa Ambush Emerges
The rapper was allegedly killed in a “targeted, gang-related killing,” according to authorities. All five suspects allegedly flew to Tampa from Jacksonville the day before the crime.
The defendants are accused of “conspiring” to kill the rapper, police said, adding that Chance and Andrews “tracked and followed the victim and his entourage to two separate locations” on the day of the murder.
Police believe that in the hotel parking lot, “three armed shooters exited a vehicle and began shooting” at Jones, killing him and injuring three others. They identified the three shooters as Rashad, Davion, and Gathright.
READ MORE: Julio Foolio, A Florida Rapper, Was Killed On His Birthday Weekend
Police believe the crime was motivated by a rivalry between a group Jones claimed to be a part of and two other rival gangs Chance, Rashad, and Davion claim to be linked with. The statement made no mention of Andrews or Gathright’s gang membership.
“He was a kid who grew up in difficult circumstances, determined to defy the odds by any means necessary and succeed in everything he did,” Jones’ lawyer Lewis Fusco wrote on social media following his death.
“His journey was marked by resilience and a deep-seated desire to strive for greatness,” Fusco told the audience.
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According to the police statement, Andrews and Chance are charged with murder as well as conspiracy to commit murder. Gathright is also charged with attempted first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
It was not immediately known whether the suspects had entered pleas or hired counsel.
The Tampa Police Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are encouraging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy to contact investigators.
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