DJ Akademiks Reports Foolio Killer Was Attacked in Prison

BY Erika Marie
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Vybz Kartel Performs In Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 14: OT7 Quanny and DJ Akademiks attends Vybz Kartel Performs In Atlantic City on June 14, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Foolio killer Sean Gathright is reportedly in critical condition after a prison stabbing, according to Akademiks.

A reported prison stabbing has put one of the men convicted of killing Julio Foolio back in the headlines less than two months after he was sentenced to life. DJ Akademiks claimed during a livestream that Sean Gathright was attacked behind bars and is now in critical condition.

“I’m hearing Sean Gathright is in critical condition,” Akademiks told viewers. He suggested the stabbing may have been retaliation connected to Foolio’s murder, although he did not identify the source of that information or provide details about who allegedly carried out the attack. No correctional agency has publicly confirmed the circumstances surrounding Gathright’s reported injuries.

Akademiks offered little sympathy while discussing the news. Gathright was among four men convicted in May of first-degree murder in the June 2024 killing of Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones. Prosecutors argued that the rapper was tracked through Tampa before gunmen ambushed him outside a hotel while he was celebrating his 26th birthday. Three other people were injured in the shooting.

Read More: Foolio's Convicted Killer Gets Five More Years In Prison For Punching C.O.

The Case Against Foolio's Killers

The case went through a separate penalty phase because prosecutors were seeking the death penalty against Gathright, Isaiah Chance, Davion Murphy, and Rashad Murphy. Jurors instead recommended life without parole for all four men, and Judge Michelle Sisco formally imposed those sentences on June 22.

Gathright was only 18 when he was arrested in 2024. Investigators accused him of participating directly in the ambush, while prosecutors spent the trial laying out surveillance footage, messages, and other evidence they said showed a coordinated effort to locate Foolio and carry out the shooting.

Reports that Gathright was stabbed have circulated online for several days, with similar claims involving co-defendant Rashad Murphy also appearing on social media. Those accounts remain unverified. Akademiks specifically described Gathright as being in critical condition, but his current medical status has not been publicly confirmed by Florida corrections officials.

According to Akademiks, Sean Gathright was stabbed in prison. "i'm hearing Sean Gathright is in critical condition," he said after suggesting the attack was some sort of retaliation. "I can't even say semi-orayers to these guys. These guys are brutal, inhumane criminals. I wish I could say something."

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming the Co-Head of Original Content. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, and Amy Luciani—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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