JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The fifth suspect connected to the murder of Jacksonville rapper Charles Jones also known as “Julio Foolio” is in custody following his arrest Monday night.
A judge said Davion Murphy, 27, faces a charge of first-degree murder and four first-degree murder attempts among other charges. He was also denied bond.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the SWAT team moved in on Murphy at an apartment complex on Labelle Street.
The murder suspect’s appearance in court comes after police sought him out for over six months.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney provided a possible explanation as to why it took JSO so long to apprehend the murder suspect.
“Some people know they’re wanted and they stay out of the spotlight,” Hackney said. “If they continue to move around and continue to not be in places that JSO may know where to look, it certainly makes them harder to put their hands on.”
News4JAX also contacted the attorney for “Julio Foolio” to comment on the recent arrest, who said:
The arrest of a fifth suspect in the murder of Charles Jones, professional known as Foolio, is another significant step in the fight for justice. While this development brings us closer to accountability, it does not ease the heartbreak felt by his family and friends. Foolio was a talented artist whose life was taken far too soon.
We will continue to support his family through this difficult journey and remain committed to ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.
As the legal process continues, we ask for privacy for Foolio’s family and express our gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and solidarity during this challenging time.
Attorney for Julio Foolio
Murphy was the last suspect who had a warrant out for his arrest for the June ambush attack outside a Tampa hotel that left 26-year-old Charles Jones shot to death while he was celebrating his birthday.
Pictures and video released by JSO show dents in a door that is hanging off its hinges, indicating officers forced their way inside to arrest Murphy.
Isaiah Chance, 21, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Sean Gathright, 18, were arrested in July in connection to the deadly shooting.
RELATED: Attorney for 1 of 5 suspects in murder of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio planning for possible insanity defense |‘We will have justice for Charles’: Mother of slain artist Julio Foolio says she asked him to stop rapping amid violence
Rashad Murphy, 30, was also arrested after a SWAT standoff at the Collins Preserve apartments.
Police said that Gathright along with Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy, fired shots at Jones that night. They said Andrews and Chance served as lookouts.
𝐉𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) January 7, 2025
27-year-old Davion Murphy is in custody. Your #JSO SWAT team, in conjunction with the Gang Unit and US Marshals Service, arrested Murphy this evening at an apartment on Labelle Street in… pic.twitter.com/ZmYlJpCWCp
All of the people involved in the shooting are affiliated with Jacksonville gangs ATK and 1200 which are rival gangs to 6 Block, the gang Jones had connections to, according to police.
The feud between 6 Block and its rival gangs ATK and 1200 has spanned over a decade with dozens of murders by and against both sides, officials said.
JSO said it worked “closely” with the Tampa Police Department since the incident and contacted the agency about the recent arrest.
“This arrest highlights our commitment and perseverance to solving this murder,” said JSO Director of Investigations and Homeland Security Mark Romano. “While it took some time, JSO and partners worked daily to hold these individuals accountable.”