TAMPA, Fla. — Closing arguments wrapped up Thursday in the murder trial of four men accused of the premeditated murder of Charles Jones, known by his stage name Julio Foolio. The jury is expected to begin deliberating Friday morning.
All five attorneys — one prosecutor and four defense attorneys — delivered their final words to the jury.
State prosecutors argued the four defendants: Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy drove from Jacksonville to Tampa with a singular, deadly purpose.
"These men decided, and planned, and came to Tampa for one purpose. And that was to hunt and track and kill Charles Jones," prosecutors said.
Watch report from Jada Williams
Opening statements for the trial started on April 22. State prosecutors showed a timeline of stalking, gang retaliation and drill rap music that eventually ended in the fatal ambush in Tampa.
Defense attorneys for all four men urged the jury to look closely at the lack of physical evidence connecting their clients to the murder.
Gathright's attorney challenged the state's gang narrative.
"Mr. Gathright is not known to any of these gang detectives in Jacksonville," Gathright's attorney Jason Wise said.
Chance's attorney, Justin Petredis, questioned the state's claim that his client had a personal rivalry with Jones.
"They also claim that Mr. Jones is Isaiah Chance's arch-rival and mortal enemy. I would ask you to look up any piece of evidence in this case that remotely proves that," Petredis said.
Nick Sinardi, Davion Murphy's attorney, argued his client could not be identified as the shooter seen in surveillance footage.
"Holding and mimicking that imaginary firearm. He's discharging it with his left hand. The shooter clipped from the Tesla video is right-handed. Shooter number 3, who they believe is Davion Murphy," Sinardi said.
Rashad Murphy's attorney, Brian Gonzalez, focused on ballistic evidence, arguing none of it tied his client to the crime.
"Did you hear that any of it had any relationship to Rashad Murphy. Not a single stitch of it," Rashad Murphy's attorney said.
The day also included tense moments in the courtroom. Davion Murphy was observed shaking his head during the state's rebuttal. He was later removed from the courtroom after the judge addressed him directly.
"If Mr. Davion Murphy can't stop talking, we may have to remove him," the judge said. "Mr. Murphy, please stop. You're not helping your situation."
On June 23, 2024, the Tampa Police Department said officers received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 11606 McKinley Drive. Upon arrival, officers found two vehicles that had been shot at in the parking lot of Home2 Suites.
Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones, died in the shooting. Foolio was in Tampa that weekend to celebrate his birthday.
Five suspects, Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, Davion Murphy, and Alicia Andrews, were arrested and charged in Jones' death. Police said they traveled in two vehicles from Jacksonville to Tampa to commit murder.
Andrews, one of the five suspects, was found guilty on count one of manslaughter and not guilty on count two of conspiracy to commit murder in October 2025.
The other four suspects are charged with first-degree murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if convicted.
This is a developing story. Tampa Bay 28 will provide more details as they become available.
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