A Florida judge sentenced four young men to life in prison for the murder of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio in 2024.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco imposed the maximum sentences of life in prison for Isaiah Chance, 23, Sean Gathright, 20, Davion Murphy, 29, and Rashad Murphy, 32.
Each defendant spoke to the court after receiving his sentence in a Tampa, Florida courtroom on Monday.
Gathright told the judge he wanted to see change in the justice system. He quoted a National Institute of Mental Health study that stated a boy’s brain doesn’t reach full maturity until 26-27 years old.
He said that’s why lawmakers set age limits on certain laws and activities.
“It is heartbreaking that an 18 year old can’t rent a car or a hotel or buy a home but can be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole,” he told Judge Sisco. “They can’t purchase alcohol or tobacco but can be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. They can’t work certain jobs or even go on a cruise without a chaperone but can be sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole,” he continued.
“I do have great sympathy for the defendants,” Judge Sisco said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “You all for the most part are young men. Some of you have children. And now for what? For what? Now you’re looking at life in prison. And what was it for?”
The judge said she was “stunned” by the extent of the gang problem in Tampa. “Just one young man after the next cut down in the prime of their lives — it is shocking,” she said. “I just can’t believe that any community, if they’re made aware of that, will just stand by and put up with it.”
Julio Foolio, real name Charles Jones II, was gunned down during an ambush at a Tampa hotel after celebrating his 26th birthday on June 23, 2024.
The fifth defendant, Chance’s girlfriend Alicia Andrews was convicted of manslaughter in a separate trial last year. She was sentenced in May to 15 years in prison.
While addressing the court on Monday, Chance said it was unfair that Alicia received a lesser sentence of 15 years in prison while he got life for the same charge.
Foolio's convicted killers—Isaiah Chance, Sean Gathright, Davion Murphy and Rashad Murphy—were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Monday (June 22). Before the sentences were handed down, all four men addressed the court.
?: Law&Crime Trials/YouTube pic.twitter.com/IT4fSLZVNY
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 23, 2026
Isaiah Chance tells the judge that he disagreed with her ruling during trial and asked how is it that his girlfriend Alicia Andrews gets sentenced to 15 years In prison but he get life in prison when they both played the same roles in the murder of Julio foolio https://t.co/OIbq9ZKn6P pic.twitter.com/W3bNsWZwWF
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) June 22, 2026