The men convicted in the killing of Julio Foolio will spend the remainder of their lives behind bars.
On Monday (June 22), Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy, and Rashad Murphy — all found guilty last month in connection with the Jacksonville, Florida rapper’s murder — were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The sentence was handed down by Hillsborough County Judge Kimberly Fernandez, who followed the recommendation made by jurors. The decision differed from prosecutors’ request, as they had sought the death penalty for the four defendants.
A fifth defendant, Alicia Andrews, was convicted of manslaughter last year.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Fernandez acknowledged that the men still had value despite the outcome of the case, emphasizing the life-altering consequences of their actions.
“These decisions that are made can have unalterable changes that you can’t come back from,” she said. “There’s no coming back from them. You either end up dead or incarcerated for life. And I, I feel like, you know, you gentlemen had much more to offer.”
Chance also addressed the court and delivered an emotional message aimed at people in his hometown.
“It ain’t worth it. Me being a rapper from my city, and Julio being a rapper from our city, it ain’t worth it. The dissing, the beefing, the shooting. For what?
“When you’re sitting in your cell alone, cold, lonely, and everybody leave you…The only person there for you is your mother and maybe one friend…
“I was 21 years old, facing the death penalty. My only interaction with law enforcement was traffic tickets. Wake up the next morning, I’m facing the death penalty. That’s how quick life can change.”
His remarks served as a warning about the devastating consequences of violence, reflecting on how rapidly a person’s life can be changed forever.
Julio Foolio was killed on June 23, 2024, while in Tampa celebrating his 26th birthday. According to reports, he had been staying at an Airbnb but was asked to leave after the gathering exceeded the property’s guest limits. He later attempted to check into a nearby Holiday Inn.
Prosecutors alleged that Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy, and Rashad Murphy had been tracking Foolio throughout the night as he visited several Tampa-area clubs. Authorities say the men eventually opened fire on his vehicle as it tried to leave the hotel, killing the rapper at the scene.
Investigators have linked the killing to an ongoing rivalry involving multiple Jacksonville gangs. According to prosecutors, Foolio was allegedly associated with 6 Block, which had been engaged in a long-running conflict with the allied gangs ATK (Ace’s Top Killers) and 1200. Authorities have also alleged that ATK has ties to rapper Yungeen Ace.
Foolio’s profile grew significantly beyond Jacksonville in 2021 as his feud with Yungeen Ace gained widespread attention online. The rivalry intensified after Yungeen Ace released “Who I Smoke,” a track widely viewed as targeting Foolio’s deceased associates. Foolio later fired back with several diss records of his own, including “Beatbox Remix” and “When I See You,” further fueling one of hip-hop’s most talked-about rap feuds.
