Rapper Foolio Killed at 26 in Tampa Hotel Shooting Amid Birthday Celebration

Rapper Foolio Killed at 26: US rapper Foolio, known for his emotionally charged trap music that garnered tens of millions of streams, has died at 26 after being shot outside a hotel car park in Tampa, Florida.

The artist, whose real name was Charles Jones, built a significant following with his music career dating back to 2017. His lawyer, Lewis Fusco, reported that Jones was killed on Sunday morning during his birthday celebrations. Police responded to a shooting scene and found two vehicles riddled with bullets in what Fusco described as an “ambush.”

Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were injured and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine a motive and identify suspects. Jones was renowned for his gritty yet poignant trap music, collaborating with top producer Zaytoven and rappers like Blueface and G Herbo.

In April, Jones announced his album Resurrection, reflecting on surviving multiple attempts on his life. According to his Spotify biography, Jones had lost 15 friends to violence before he turned 20, survived a shooting as a teenager, and experienced long-term imprisonment as a young adult.

In 2021, Jones was grazed by a bullet in a drive-by shooting in Jacksonville, where he claimed to have fired back in self-defense. He was later arrested in 2022 for excessive window tint and “felony fleeing” in Jacksonville, resulting in six months probation under a plea deal. During interrogation, Jones dismissed claims that his music incited violence, asserting, “You can’t just say it’s my music that’s why somebody died.”

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