Kaylah Walton
Surveillance footage that emerged recently captures the fatal moment when Julio Foolio, a 26-year-old rapper recognized for his gritty lyrics reflecting the struggles of the disadvantaged, was gunned down in a shared parking lot between Tampa’s Hilton and Holiday Inn on June 23 in Florida.
Leaked footage reveals Julio Foolio’s attack
A viral video circulating on social media exhibits a gunman in a blue hoodie relentlessly firing a semi-automatic rifle at a black sedan with Julio Foolio and three others inside. The assailant fired from close range as the car tried to evade, culminating in tragedy at 4:37 a.m.
Julio Foolio was the sole fatality among the group, with the remaining individuals sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, marking a sorrowful conclusion for the young artist.
This incident was not Foolio’s first encounter with violence. In October 2023, he was ambushed in a residential area in Jacksonville, resulting in a severe foot injury from a gunshot.
In response, Foolio pursued legal action, alleging that a UF Health nurse jeopardized his safety by disclosing his location.
Mani, Foolio’s girlfriend, took to social media to announce his tragic passing, expressing her sorrow and denouncing the violence that claimed her partner. “They took my boyfriend away from me. I despise them, and I won’t be the only one shedding tears,” she lamented on her Twitter account.
The hip-hop fraternity mourns the loss of yet another budding artist, with Julio Foolio’s music and message enduring, serving as a reminder of the influence of creative expression and the enduring impact of those who challenge conventional boundaries.
