Alicia Andrews took the witness stand this week in a Tampa courtroom with a pointy tone and little emotion as prosecutors accused her of serving to orchestrate the ambush killing of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio throughout a violent feud between rival Hip-Hop crews.
The 25-year-old is the primary of 5 defendants to go on trial for the June 23, 2024, taking pictures that left Foolio — born Charles Jones — lifeless outdoors a Vacation Inn.
Prosecutors declare Andrews acted as a lookout, monitoring the rapper’s actions earlier than masked gunmen opened fireplace with modified rifles.
“Andrews performed surveillance as a result of her boyfriend had ‘beef’ with the sufferer,” Tampa Police Detective Juan Ramos testified, linking the killing to a long-running gang dispute in Jacksonville.
Investigators say the homicide was a part of a brutal turf battle between Foolio’s 6 Block and the opposing ATK and 1200 gangs.
Andrews’ boyfriend, Isaiah Likelihood, is allegedly affiliated with ATK, together with three different co-defendants, Sean Gathright, Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy, who’re awaiting separate trials.
Detective Ramos instructed jurors that telephone information, surveillance footage and license plate readers positioned Andrews on the homicide scene.
“Cellphone information, video surveillance and license plate readers present Andrews on the homicide scene,” he stated.
In accordance with prosecutors, Andrews booked a Tampa Airbnb by means of Instagram and was captured on doorbell video getting into the property. Cell tower information additionally positioned her close to a number of places the place the group allegedly scouted Foolio earlier than the assault.
FDLE firearms analyst Amara Drew testified that “all three cartridge circumstances have been fired from the identical firearm,” referring to a Glock pistol used within the taking pictures that killed Foolio and injured two others.
Regardless of the digital path, Andrews’ protection maintains she had no concept a homicide was deliberate. Her attorneys argued she believed she was on a romantic journey with Likelihood and had no function within the lethal plot.
Throughout cross-examination, Ramos admitted there isn’t any direct proof that Andrews knew a couple of plan to kill Foolio.
She was not current when weapons have been packed and didn’t go to co-defendant Gathright’s dwelling, the place prosecutors say the group ready for the hit.
Andrews had minimal contact with the opposite defendants, except for Likelihood, and was not seen with any firearms. She hung out on the Airbnb posting about meals and jewellery whereas the others went to Teasers nightclub.
There have been no textual content messages, telephone calls or digital communication linking her to the homicide plan within the days or perhaps weeks earlier than the killing. Preliminary claims that she let the group into the Airbnb have been later disproven by digital lock logs, which confirmed another person entered first.
When police confronted Andrews with first-degree homicide fees, she didn’t confess and denied understanding Foolio.
“She denied understanding sufferer Julio Foolio when proven his {photograph},” Ramos testified.
Digital proof confirmed Likelihood used Money App to pay $361.16 for the Tampa Airbnb at 3:54 A.M. on June 22, 2024, simply hours earlier than the ambush. The case has pulled again the curtain on Jacksonville’s drill rap scene, the place music and social media function platforms for gang rivalries and violence.
Foolio, a distinguished determine in 6 Block, had been concerned in a years-long feud with ATK and 1200, teams recognized for utilizing lyrics and movies to impress enemies.
If convicted, Andrews faces life in jail on fees of first-degree homicide and conspiracy. The trial is scheduled to proceed this week in Hillsborough County Circuit Court docket.
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