Alicia Andrews, a key suspect in the murder of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio, is ready to break her silence and testify against her boyfriend, Isaiah Chance, in a case that has gripped Florida with its ties to gang violence and betrayal. Andrews, 21, faces charges of first-degree premeditated murder and conspiracy in the June 2024 killing of Charles Jones, known as Julio Foolio, who was gunned down in a Tampa hotel parking lot while celebrating his 26th birthday. Her decision to potentially turn on Chance, a documented member of the ATK gang, adds a dramatic twist to an already high-profile case rooted in a deadly Jacksonville gang feud, reminiscent of other significant rap conflicts as detailed in our report on how Mo3 and Yella Beezy’s feud led to Roy Lee’s death and chaos in Dallas.
Andrews’s attorney has revealed that her actions in the murder plot were driven by fear, claiming she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Chance.
Court documents detail allegations that Chance beat, dragged, and even kidnapped Andrews in the past, forcing her to hand over her cellphone on multiple occasions. In this case, prosecutors allege Andrews gave her phone to Chance, which he used to track Foolio’s movements and coordinate the fatal ambush. Her lawyer argues this history of abuse explains why she felt compelled to comply, countering the state’s claim that she willingly participated in the Julio Foolio murder plot.
However, a Tampa judge ruled on August 13, 2025, that Andrews cannot use domestic violence as a defense at trial, citing Florida law that bars duress as an excuse for first-degree murder.
The murder unfolded in the early hours of June 23, 2024, when Foolio was ambushed at a Home2 Suites by Hilton in Tampa. Surveillance footage captured Andrews and Chance in a silver Chevrolet Cruze, tracking Foolio’s entourage across two locations—Teasers Gentleman’s Club and Truth 18 nightclub—before following them to the hotel. There, three other suspects—Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy, and Davion Murphy—allegedly opened fire with AR-style rifles and a Glock pistol, leaving 31 shell casings at the scene.
Foolio was killed, and three others were wounded. The attack, prosecutors say, was a calculated act of retaliation in a long-standing feud between Foolio’s 6 Block gang and rival groups ATK and 1200, a tragic pattern also seen in other high-profile incidents within the rap community, including the devastating loss of Munna Duke who was shot dead at 31 in a similar gang-related tragedy.
Andrews’ decision to testify could be pivotal, especially since she rejected an 18-year plea deal that would have required her to speak against Chance and other co-defendants. Her trial, originally set for January 2025, has been postponed to August 18, 2025, after she waived her right to a speedy trial.
The state is considering the death penalty for Chance, Gathright, and Rashad Murphy, but notably not for Andrews, raising questions about her role and potential cooperation. Davion Murphy was arrested in January 2025, and Rashad Murphy was transferred to Hillsborough County custody following his arrest in Jacksonville. Court records paint a chilling picture of the planning involved.
A text message from Gathright’s phone, attributed to a Murphy, read,
“Im koming home my thirst is quenched !! pop a bottle of don julio today,”
an apparent jab at Foolio’s death. Evidence also links shell casings from Gathright’s vehicle to a prior attempt on Foolio’s life in October 2023, showing the depth of the gang conflict. A Tampa judge has allowed prior Jacksonville gang-related shootings to be used to establish motive, strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Andrews, who is pregnant and due in February 2025, remains in custody without bond alongside Chance and Gathright. Her choice to testify could reshape the trial’s outcome and expose more details about the gang dynamics driving this tragedy.
