A Florida jury today recommended life in prison without parole for every man convicted in the murder of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio, rejecting the death penalty after hours of defense arguments.
Rashad Murphy, Davion Murphy, Sean Gathright, and Isaiah Chance, all found guilty of first-degree murder, received the panel's unanimous recommendation on Friday, according to WFLA. The same jury that convicted them handed down the penalty-phase decision. State Attorney Suzy Lopez addressed the verdict directly after the recommendation came in.
"If you commit violent crimes in Hillsborough County, we are going to hold you accountable," Lopez said. "These four men will spend the rest of their lives in a Florida state prison for the decisions they made early that morning during the summer of 2024."
Defense attorneys had spent hours on Friday pleading with jurors to spare their clients’ lives. Justin Petredis, who represented Isaiah Chance during the penalty phase, argued that the ultimate punishment was reserved for a narrower category of offenders.
"The death penalty exists for the worst of the worst," Petredis told the jury. "We submit that Isaiah Chance is not that. As I said, he will pay for this crime every day for the rest of his life. We are asking you to let him have that life."
The jury's recommendation is not the final word. Lopez noted that defense motions will follow, before Judge Michelle Sisco issues the official sentence.
"This is just a recommendation from the jury to the judge," Lopez said. "There will be motions filed from the defense, and then the judge will hand out her sentence." Both Lopez and Judge Sisco thanked jurors for their weeks of work after the verdict was read.
Foolio, born Charles Jones, was shot and killed in Tampa on June 23, 2024, while celebrating his birthday. Formal sentencing for all four men is scheduled for June 22 at 1:30 p.m.
