A 20-year-old man convicted of murdering rapper Charles “Julio Foolio” Jones Jr. in Tampa, Florida, told a judge today he believes people under the age of 21 should not be sentenced to life in prison without parole. “It is heartbreaking that an 18 year old can't rent a car or a hotel or buy a home but can be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. They can't purchase alcohol or tobacco but can be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. They can't work certain jobs or even go on a cruise without a chaperone but can be sentenced to death without life, or life … without possibility of parole,” Sean Gathright told Judge Michelle Sisco in Florida’s 13th Judicial District. Gathright said he wants to “see change.” “Change for those whose fates were sealed long before they were born. Change for the prodigal sons and daughters who ventured off too far in the world and got lost. Change for those who haven't reached full maturity or unlocked their full potential as adults. Change for the ones who never had the option to go around, over, or underneath, but straight through their obstacles,” Gathright said. “In spite of my current circumstances, I still trust in all those biblical promises. I believe that I am exactly where God planned for me to be, a plan he created long before I was born. It is also my belief that this chapter of my life will propel me to a much greater purpose than what we see here today, because my journey has just begun. Thank you." Gathright and the Murphys were the gunmen on June 23, 2024, outside the Home2 Suites hotel next to the University of South Florida while Chance stood by in the same hotel parking lot with his girlfriend, Alicia Andrews, after tracking Jones through the city. Jones was prominent in drill rap, which celebrates violence and mocks death, and was in Tampa celebrating his 26th birthday. He’d been shot several times before, including a shooting in Texas linked to one of the guns used to kill him. A jury on May 8 convicted Gathright and the Murphys of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and three counts of attempted second-degree murder, which was a lesser included to attempted first-degree murder. Gathright also was convicted of evidence tampering. Chance was convicted of the murder and conspiracy charges. He was not charged with attempted murder. #law #court #crime - @meghannmcuniff