JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department, along with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, announced the arrest of three people in connection to the death of Jacksonville rapper Foolio.
Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was shot and killed outside a hotel in Tampa on June 23, 2024. Alicia Andrews, Isaiah Chance, Jr., and Sean Gathright were arrested in Jacksonville on Saturday. They are all facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
Police are still looking for two additional men wanted in connection with the murder. Davion Murphy and Rashad Murphy are also facing charges of first-degree murder.
Tampa police confirmed the shooting was the result of an ongoing feud between rival gangs.
Foolio was affiliated with the '6 Block' gang. Police said Chance is a documented member of the 'ATK' gang and both Davion and Rashad are documented members of the '1200' gang. Their feuds have been going on for years with multiple music videos made about the killings among them.
First Coast News Crime and Safety Analyst Ken Jefferson said these arrests are great news for the city of Jacksonville; however, he does not believe the arrests will lead to the dismantling of gangs in the city.
"Gangs go so deep, and there are so many people statewide that is involved in gangs. And then with this being a high profile incident, police are just going to have to constantly mind their P's and Q's, watching out for retaliatory type activity. Just because nothing has happened with regards to retaliation right now, doesn't mean that the police can put their guard down," Jefferson explained.
Jefferson said he does not believe these arrests will serve as a deterrent to future gang activity because of the nature of current gang life.
"There's an attraction with gangs. They usually prey on certain types of individuals, persons who are looking for a group or an affiliation or friendship or a family. They prey on young men that way and these young men, they're trying to make a name for themselves, but they're doing it in the wrong way and in a negative way. So it's not going to deter, in my opinion, young men from wanting to become a product because they see the flashiness, they see the money," Jefferson said.
Waters had a strong warning for potential criminals in Florida during the press conference saying these arrests are an example of what happens when someone commits a crime in the state.