JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A motion filed in Hillsborough County court recently suggests that one of the suspects charged in Jacksonville rapper Foolio’s murder is "prepared" to rely on insanity for his defense.
Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was 26 years old when he was shot and killed while celebrating his birthday at a hotel in Tampa on June 23. Three others were wounded in the shooting. The rapper's attorney told First Coast News shortly after the incident that Jones was "ambushed."
Four people have been arrested in the murder case: Isaiah Chance Jr., 21, Alicia Andrews, 21, Sean Gathright, 18, and Rashad Murphy, 30, who is the one planning "for a possible insanity defense." One suspect, Murphy's brother, Davion Murphy, is accused of being one of three shooters in the murder along with Gathright and Rashad; he has not been arrested, and police are continuing the search for him.
In the court document filed on Nov. 19, Rashad's attorney Daniel Hernandez requests that Rashad needs assistance "of a confidential forensic neuropsychologist to examine the Defendant, [and] review records."
"The State will seek highly qualified clinicians to prove their side and will compensate them accordingly," the document states. "The Defense should be treated in the same fashion."
Furthermore, the motion mentions that if it is approved, the state would have to "incur the expense of said experts," as Rashad "is indigent."
When police announced the arrests of Andrews, Chance and Gathright in July, Tampa Police Department Chief Lee Bercaw said Foolio posted his location on social media several times throughout the night he was killed, and said the suspects were seen on security footage following Foolio from location to location.
"This shows the lengths that these individuals were willing to go through and achieve this murder," Bercaw said.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez also said in July, the planning of Foolio's killing was "truly alarming."
Investigators claim Jones' death was the result of retaliation in an "ongoing Jacksonville gang war." Those charged in his murder are documented gang members of ATK and 1200, both of which have been involved in a decades-long feud between Foolio's gang, "6 Block."
Since Andrews' attorney told Judge Michelle Sisco in a pre-trial hearing in September that Andrews is not waiving her right to a speedy trial, trial for her is scheduled to begin on Jan. 6, 2025.
As for Chance, Gathright and Rashad Murphy, their trial will start on April 6, 2026, court records show.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the four charged in the rapper's killing.
