Sean Gathright Tells Jury He Found Christ After Killing Jacksonville Rapper Julio Foolio

Sean Gathright told a Florida courtroom he wanted to accept responsibility for his role in the killing of Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio as jurors prepared to decide whether he should receive a death sentence.

Gathright, one of four men convicted in the rapper’s murder case, spoke during the penalty phase after spending nearly two years in jail following his arrest at age 18, according to First Coast News during coverage of the sentencing hearing.

“I’m just here to be a man and take responsibility and express my feelings about what has happened in this whole situation,” Gathright told jurors while addressing the court directly.

Now 20 years old, Gathright described the case and his time in custody as traumatic while expressing regret over the violence connected to the rapper’s death. Much of his testimony centered on religion, personal growth, and how incarceration reshaped his outlook while awaiting trial.

“I grew up in church and in a Christian household,” Gathright said during testimony. “I’ve refocused my life to Christ. I’ve taken a lot of religious programs. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover.”

Defense attorneys attempted to present Gathright as someone capable of rehabilitation, pointing to his participation in religious programs and personal reflection during incarceration. Prosecutors focused on the seriousness of the killing and the violent circumstances surrounding the case.

Julio Foolio, whose legal name was Charles Jones, became widely known through music tied closely to Jacksonville street conflicts and rap rivalries connected to violence. His killing intensified national attention surrounding tensions tied to Florida rap crews and social media feuds.

Testimony during sentencing centered on whether jurors believe Gathright’s remorse and religious transformation should influence punishment in a case prosecutors described as deliberate and severe.

Gathright’s appearance on the witness stand marked one of the most personal moments of the proceedings, with testimony focused on accountability, faith, and the emotional toll of spending his late teenage years behind bars while awaiting trial.

Jurors must now weigh those statements against the brutality of the crime as they determine whether Gathright will spend the rest of his life in prison or face the harshest punishment available under Florida law.

For now, Sean Gathright’s future rests with jurors deciding whether his claims of remorse and spiritual change outweigh the violence tied to Julio Foolio’s killing.