TAMPA, Fla. – Three people arrested in the murder of Charles Jones — also known as Jacksonville rapper “Julio Foolio” — pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in a Hillsborough County courtroom Monday.
Jones was ambushed and killed in a Tampa hotel parking lot in June while celebrating his 26th birthday. Three of his friends were also hurt in the shooting.
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In late July, Isaiah Chance, 21, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Sean Gathright, 18, were arrested in Jacksonville in connection with Jones’ murder. They all faced a judge on Monday.
A couple of days later, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested a fourth suspect, Rashad Murphy.
Police said Chance and Andrews tracked and followed Jones and his entourage to two locations. At each location, the two got out of their vehicle and Chance used a cell phone, police said. After the cell phone communication, a second suspect vehicle arrived at each location. Both vehicles then followed Jones and his entourage to a hotel located on McKinley Drive, where the murder happened.
Police said that Gathright, along with Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy — who’s still outstanding — fired shots at Jones that night.
(Warning: The surveillance video, released by police, shows the shooting and is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.)
Investigators said the ambush attack was the result of a deadly and ongoing gang feud in Jacksonville.
Police are still searching for Davion. They believe he was one of the gunmen responsible for shooting and killing Jones. Earlier this month, Sheriff T.K. Waters said police were “very close” to catching him.
Rashad Murphy will have an arraignment in September after he is transferred from Duval County.
Anyone with information that could assist in this ongoing investigation is asked to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130, or contact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS.