Florida Rapper Foolio Shot and Killed in Tampa

Florida rapper Foolio, real name Charles Jones, was shot and killed early Sunday morning in Tampa, according to his lawyer, Lewis Fusco. Jones had just celebrated his 26th birthday.

The shooting reportedly occurred following a party at an Airbnb rental. Fusco says Jones and his crew were asked to leave the residence. They then checked into a nearby Holiday Inn, where Jones was allegedly ambushed in the parking lot.

The Tampa Police Department confirmed the shooting and identified the victim as Charles Jones, but are awaiting positive identification from the Medical Examiner’s Office. At least three other people were injured in the incident.

Jones, who rose to fame in 2018 with his single “Coming Up,” was a prominent figure in Florida’s hip-hop scene. He was known for rapping about the hardships he faced in life. He had a large social media following, with nearly 1 million followers on Instagram and over 600,000 subscribers on YouTube.

This is not the first time Jones has been involved in a shooting. In 2021, he was also shot near his hometown of Jacksonville. The suspects in that case remain at large.

The Tampa Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call 813-231-6130 or share a tip via Tip411 or the TampaPD app.

Foolio’s death has sparked outrage among his fans.