In a recent town hall meeting held on Monday, June 24, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw assured the public that arrests will soon be made in connection with the tragic murder of Jacksonville rapper Foolio. The artist, whose real name was Charles Jones II, was fatally shot on June 23 in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Tampa. Chief Bercaw emphasized that the police department has gathered significant leads and is working diligently to solve the case.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, says that they already have good leads into the murder of Foolio and he guarantees there will be arrests made soon.
PIC.TWITTER.COM/SSMYSITYVF— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) JUNE 25, 2024
Chief Bercaw said the Tampa Police Department is working with numerous other agencies to bring those responsible to justice. Those agencies include the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the statewide prosecutor, federal partners such as the ATF and FBI, and local prosecutor Susie Lopez. That includes following up on tips, searching for social media evidence, and investigating if any of the suspects in this murder have gang ties.
“We are leaving no stone unturned,” Chief Bercaw said. “The community deserves justice, and we are committed to delivering it.”
For residents of New Tampa, this is the third deadly shooting in their neighborhood in a week. Several dozen attended a community meeting Monday night, all ears for Chief Bercaw.
According to police, the shooting occurred at about 4:40 a.m. Sunday in a hotel parking lot on Fowler Ave. and McKinley Drive. Two vehicles riddled with bullets. This looked like it had to do with some sort of rap feud that got violent. Julio Foolio was visiting Tampa to celebrate his 26th birthday during the altercation.
“The evidence points to groups from Jacksonville,” Bercaw confirmed. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who knew about the feud, said, “It’s not just music; these lyrics talk about real murders. Now, we have to clean up this mess.”
Foolio Born on June 21, 1998, in Jacksonville, Florida. Foolio amassed popularity quickly via his naked authenticity to tell stories that closely aligned with listeners. His musical works have often reflected street life’s harsh realities and have attracted a loyal fan base for the powerful lyrics and style he delivered differently than others.
The death of Foolio created a great vacuum in the music community at an early tender age of 26 years. He was having the time of his life since. Lately, he had been celebrating his birthday when he got brutally gunned down, that rendered his fans and families mourning.
Foolio’s life may have been short, but his music permanently marked the industry. One of his most popular hits is “Voodoo”—accumulating more than 31 million streams on Spotify alone—the lyrics partially describe attempting to make it big in the rap world and showing tough choices. Another major release, “When I See You (Remix),” became his unofficial remix to Fantasia’s classic. This record gazes directly at his enemies to give them a powerful message and assurance of conviction.
Other top Foolio tracks include “Dead Opps, Pt. 2,” “I Hate You, I Love You,” and “Play With Me.” His music still moves the soul, epitomizing his talent and what he brought to the table regarding the hip-hop world.
The murder of Foolio has sparked calls for justice from the community and his fans. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters issued a stern warning against retribution, saying it will not be tolerated, even amid ongoing gang clashes in the city.
“We understand the pain and anger that comes with such a loss, ” Sheriff Waters replied. “But perpetuating retaliatory measures embroils you in a circle of violence. Let the authorities address this issue and allow justice to prevail against the perpetrators.”
Chief Bercaw says he will continue to update the public as the investigation continues into the killing of Foolio. The police are working on a myriad of leads nonstop in pursuit of justice as soon as possible for whoever is responsible for the murder of Foolio.
“The community’s cooperation and patience are paramount,” Chief Bercaw said. “We have every confidence that as all entities come together in this effort, we will soon see arrests and justice served for Charles Jones II.”
Though the search for his killers remains operative, Foolio‘s music stays mighty, reminding everyone of the talent he had become and the voice he gave to the streets of Jacksonville. His legacy survives through his art.
