Florida rapper believed dead in shooting outside hotel, 3 others injured: police
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — At least one person is dead and three injured after a shooting at a hotel in Tampa, Florida early Sunday morning, according to police.
Tampa police said the shooting happened shortly before 5 a.m. EDT in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn at the intersection of Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive.
"What we have learned, and this is early in the investigation, two cars were shot at," said Joneé Lewis, public information officer of the Tampa Police Department.
Lewis said one person was killed at the scene while three other gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals. The deceased person was believed to be a man named Charles Jones, 26, but the medical examiner has yet to release a positive identification, police say.
Charles Jones is the legal name of rapper Julio Foolio. While police have not explicitly confirmed the connection, the 26-year-old rapper's girlfriend, Blanco Mani, posted the news of his death on Instagram, which is now private. She said he died after celebrating his birthday in Tampa, posting a photo of him from that night.
The rapper's Instagram story showed that he was celebrating his birthday with a pool party at a Tampa Airbnb before police made him relocate.
Jones' attorney, Lewis Fusco, confirmed the rapper's death to Jacksonville news outlet WJXT. Nexstar's WFLA has contacted Fusco Law Group for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Jones, who also goes by Fulio, has roughly 952,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Previous news reports say Jones was shot twice in the past three years.
Investigators said they believe the victims were at the hotel trying to get a room at the time of the shooting.
"It seems like they will survive their injuries," Lewis said.
Investigators are still reviewing surveillance video in the incident, Lewis explained, while officers are helping guide hotel guests around the scene.
At this time, no arrests have been made. Officers are looking for additional video to identify any potential suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tampa Police at 813-231-6130.