Julio Foolio, a well-known rapper from Florida, has been confirmed dead following a shooting incident during his birthday celebrations in Tampa, according to his lawyer.

The incident occurred early Sunday in a hotel car park where police reported that four individuals were struck by gunfire. One person was killed, and authorities believe the victim is Foolio, pending confirmation from a medical examination.

The 26-year-old artist, whose real name was Charles Jones, was officially identified in a statement by the law firm representing him. Lewis Fusco, a representative from the firm, stated that the rapper was “reportedly ambushed” during the incident, as quoted by CBS News, a local affiliate of the BBC’s US partner.

Foolio had been forced to relocate his birthday celebrations after authorities asked him to leave an Airbnb property for exceeding the occupancy limit. He had been actively sharing updates about the celebrations on Instagram, mentioning that the police had intervened and “shut us down.”

The shooting took place around 04:40 EDT (09:40 BST), involving two cars, according to the police. The three other individuals injured in the incident were taken to a nearby hospital, where their conditions were reported as stable.

Julio Foolio, a prominent figure in the rap scene, garnered nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify. His most popular track, “Voo Doo,” has received significant attention. Despite his musical success, Foolio had recently spoken out about the dangers he faced. In an Instagram post from April, he described the preceding months as “tragic,” noting “multiple attempts on my life.”

Local media reports suggest that Foolio had been candid about his gang affiliations, which may have contributed to the threats against him. The police have urged the public to come forward with any information that might assist in their investigation of the shooting.

The news of Foolio’s death has sent shockwaves through the music community and his fanbase, as tributes pour in for the young rapper whose career was marked by both talent and controversy. Authorities continue to seek leads to uncover the details surrounding the tragic event.