Physical Evidence and Hotel Witnesses Take Center Stage in Julio Foolio Murder Trial

The second day of testimony in the murder trial tied to the death of Charles Jones, the rapper known as Julio Foolio, focused heavily on the shooting scene itself. After opening statements laid out competing theories about whether Jones was targeted in a coordinated ambush, jurors heard from investigators, victims, hotel guests, and law enforcement witnesses about what happened at the Tampa hotel complex in the early morning hours of June 23, 2024.

The State Walks Jurors Through the Shooting Scene

Homicide Detective David Alverson continued testimony about the forensic processing of the scene. According to testimony summarized from court, investigators recovered 31 9mm shell casings, along with projectile fragments, and linked the gunfire to three shooters and two suspect vehicles, a Chevrolet Impala and a Chevrolet Cruze.

Alverson also described how investigators used hotel surveillance footage and Tesla Sentry Mode footage to track the shooters’ movements. One detail that stood out was testimony that the force from a rifle fired by a third shooter was powerful enough to trigger a nearby car alarm.

The physical evidence also showed the path of the Dodge Charger Jones was in. Alverson said the vehicle fled under fire before coming to a stop, with Jones found inside in a defensive position. Investigators documented widespread damage from the gunfire, including bullet strikes in occupied hotel rooms and damage to bystander vehicles.

Witnesses Describe the Birthday Trip and the Chaos at the Hotel

Two witnesses who knew Jones but did not want their identities disclosed testified that they traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa for his birthday celebration. Their testimony helped place the trip in context before the jury heard from witnesses who described the shooting itself.

Camilla Bentley, identified as a shooting victim, testified that she was in Tampa for a girls’ trip and ended up at Airbnb parties and clubs with Jones’ group through a friend. She said she was sitting in a car at the hotel when gunfire erupted. Bentley escaped by driving away, but she was shot in the right arm. She also testified that she never saw the shooters.

That testimony gave jurors a direct account from someone caught in the gunfire, but it also underscored an important limitation for the state: at least from Bentley’s perspective, she could describe the attack and her injury, but not identify who fired.

Hotel Guests Testify About Gunfire Reaching Their Rooms

The jury also heard from hotel guests who were not part of Jones’ group but were inside the hotel complex when the shooting happened.

Audra Agramante testified that she was staying at the hotel with her husband and her daughter’s boyfriend while helping her daughter move into the University of South Florida. She said they were awakened by loud popping sounds, realized they were gunshots, and later saw that a bullet had struck their hotel room window. She called 911, the hotel, and campus police.

Pablo Gabor also testified about being at a hotel near the University of South Florida with his family. He described being awakened by loud explosion-like noises that he initially thought could be a bomb. According to the testimony summary, the children were panicking and crying, Gabor’s wife felt pain in her leg, and his son found a small piece of metal and a burned spot on the bedding that they believed was connected to the incident.

Officer Yanni Hansas testified about responding to a LaQuinta Hotel on June 23, 2024, for a report of bullet holes connected to the nearby shooting investigation. He documented a bullet path through an exterior AC unit and into a room, where bedding was damaged and debris was left behind.

Officers Document Surveillance, Shell Casings, and Bullet Damage

Officer Craig Douglas of the Tampa Police Department testified that he responded to the Home2 Suites around 6 a.m. on June 23, 2024, after a reported homicide. His role included helping process the crime scene, checking for surveillance footage and shell casings, identifying the owner of a Tesla near the shooting location, and observing damage in hotel rooms consistent with gunfire.

That testimony supported the state’s larger effort to build the case through footage, physical evidence, and scene documentation rather than relying only on eyewitness identification.

Aaliyah Albritton Describes the Moments Around the Shooting

Aaliyah Albritton testified that she traveled to Tampa for a weekend birthday celebration involving Airbnb parties and club outings connected to Jones. She said the group later went to a hotel, where she went inside and heard multiple “boom” sounds she believed were gunshots. Afterward, she left the area and avoided police because she was on probation.

Her testimony added another account from someone connected to the birthday trip, while also giving the defense potential credibility issues to explore because she acknowledged avoiding police after the shooting.

Jacksonville Gang Evidence Begins to Enter the Trial

The day also moved into background testimony connected to the state’s alleged motive.

Detective Travis Oliver of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office testified about a 2019 homicide investigation involving 17-year-old Adrian Gaynor, who was shot multiple times on Jacksonville’s north side. The shooting was later determined to have probable gang involvement, and the investigation involved coordination with the department’s gang unit.

Detective Richard Needer also testified about his background in gang investigations. He described how gangs are identified under Florida law and said local groups including ATK, 1200, and 6 Block have rivalries and alliances. Investigators track those groups through social media posts, music videos, and field intelligence.

That testimony was important because prosecutors have argued that the killing grew out of a Jacksonville gang rivalry, while defense attorneys have challenged whether the state can connect each defendant to the shooting with concrete proof rather than association, music videos, or social media interpretation.

Where Day 2 Leaves the Case

By the end of Day 2, the state had begun building the foundation for its theory through crime scene evidence, surveillance, bystander testimony, and early gang-related background. The strongest pieces for the prosecution were the physical evidence tying the shooting to multiple weapons and vehicles, and the surveillance-based timeline investigators say tracked the shooters’ movements.

At the same time, the day also showed where the defense may focus: the eyewitnesses described chaos, fear, and injury, but at least one shooting victim said she never saw the shooters. As the trial moved forward, the key question remained whether prosecutors could connect the physical evidence and surveillance timeline to each defendant individually, not just to the broader allegation of a coordinated ambush.