Jacksonville, Fla. – After more than six months on the run, a key suspect in the Tampa murder of Jacksonville rapper Charles Jones, also known as “Julio Foolio,” has been arrested.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, with help from its gang unit and the U.S. Marshals Service, tracked down Davion Murphy, 27, at an apartment complex in Jacksonville. He’s now in custody at the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
Murphy had been wanted since June 23 in connection to the shooting that took Jones’ life. Authorities say it was part of an ongoing gang war. That night, five suspects traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa with deadly intent.
Among those charged are Rashad Murphy, 30, Isaiah Chance, 21, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Sean Gathright, 18. They all face first-degree murder charges. Investigators revealed that Chance and Andrews acted as lookouts, tailing Jones while he celebrated his birthday on June 22, visiting two Tampa clubs.
In the early hours of June 23, Jones headed to the Home2Suites hotel near the University of South Florida (USF). Security cameras captured chilling footage of three gunmen ambushing his car in the parking lot, opening fire, and killing him. The shooters were identified as Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy.
Authorities say this tragedy is part of a long-standing feud between Jones’ gang, “6 Block,” and two rival groups, “ATK” and “1200.” Rashad Murphy and Chance are known members of ATK and 1200, respectively. Detectives believe these rival gangs joined forces to target Jones, marking another chapter in a violent conflict that has claimed dozens of lives over the past decade.
Jones wasn’t just known for his music but also for his public feuds and violent lyrics, some of which referred to real-life events and crimes. Investigators believe his murder was a direct result of this ongoing gang war.
Interestingly, just before the shooting, Jones had shared on Instagram that he was in Tampa celebrating his birthday, unknowingly revealing his location to those who would later take his life.
This tragic story is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gang violence, not just for the individuals involved but for the communities caught in the crossfire.