The hip-hop community was shocked by the tragic news of Jacksonville rapper Foolio's untimely death at a Holiday Inn in Tampa. Foolio, whose real name is Walter Lee Jr., was known for his gritty lyrics and raw storytelling that resonated with fans across the country.
Foolio's death has left a void in the rap world, as he was seen as a rising star with immense talent and potential. His music often reflected the struggles of growing up in Jacksonville's tough neighborhoods, and his authenticity endeared him to many listeners who could relate to his experiences.
Julio Foolio was celebrating his 26th birthday when a shooter killed him early Sunday morning in Tampa after he shared with his one million Instagram followers that he had “the best birthday ever.”
The rapper, who was most known for his 2019 “Voo Doo,” documented on his Instagram story that he had a pool party on Saturday afternoon at a house he had rented on Airbnb in the Tampa area and it got so crowded police officers responded
The Tampa Police Department said it received a 911 call regarding a shooting at the 11606 McKinley Drive hotel at approximately 4:40 a.m.
"The victim in this morning's shooting is believed to be Charles Jones (DOB: 6-21-1998). Positive identification is pending confirmation from the Medical Examiner's Office," the agency said in a statement.
Charles Jones is the legal name of Julio Foolio. While police have not explicitly confirmed the connection, the 26-year-old rapper’s girlfriend, Blanco Mani, posted the news of his death on Instagram, which is now private. She said he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa, posting a photo of him from that night.
The rapper’s Instagram story showed that he was celebrating his birthday with a pool party at a Tampa AirBnB before police made him relocate.
Foolio, who has over 1 million followers on Instagram, shared and promoted on his page that he was in Tampa for his birthday.
Hotel guests were not evacuated but police were on the scene to assist them if necessary, Lewis said.
Police are urging the public to provide any videos or information they may have to assist with the investigation.
"If you saw something or heard something any little detail can help us figure out what happened this morning," Lewis said.
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