TAMPA, Fla. – A shooting early Sunday morning outside a Tampa hotel has left one person dead and three others injured, according to local authorities. The incident took place around 5 a.m. in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.
Preliminary investigations suggest that two vehicles were targeted in the shooting, said Joneé Lewis, public information officer for the Tampa Police Department. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The deceased has been tentatively identified as 26-year-old Charles Jones, although official confirmation from the medical examiner is still pending. Jones, known by his stage name Julio Foolio, was reportedly celebrating his birthday in Tampa. His girlfriend, Blanco Mani, shared the news of his death on Instagram, which has since been set to private.
Jones’ Instagram stories from the night before showed him celebrating with a pool party at an Airbnb in Tampa. The celebration was cut short when police intervened, requiring him to relocate. The rapper’s attorney, Lewis Fusco, confirmed his death to a Jacksonville news outlet, though further comments were not immediately available.
Julio Foolio, who has amassed nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify, had previously survived two shootings in the past three years. Authorities believe the victims were attempting to secure a hotel room when the shooting occurred.
Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage and are seeking additional video evidence to identify potential suspects. “It seems like they will survive their injuries,” Lewis mentioned regarding the injured victims. As of now, no arrests have been made.
The Tampa Police Department urges anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 813-231-6130.