Rapper Foolio shot and killed while celebrating 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida

Rapper Foolio has been shot and killed while celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida.

The musician, whose real name was Charles Jones, was pronounced dead after police were called to a Holiday Inn in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to Sky News' US partner NBC News.

Foolio was reportedly inside a vehicle in the hotel's car park when he was shot during an "ambush", his lawyer Lewis Fusco said.

Another vehicle nearby was also hit.

Three other victims were taken to hospital and are all said to be in a stable condition.

Police are still investigating the motive and working to identify those involved.

The night he died, Jones was celebrating his 26th birthday, Mr Fusco confirmed.

Jones had earlier shared footage of his partying on his social media accounts, including on Instagram, on which he had one million followers.

He uploaded an invitation to a pool party on Saturday evening and told his followers to directly message him for the address.

Later that night, he posted that police had "shut us down and kicked us out" of their Airbnb.

His lawyer said in a statement that Jones then relocated to the Holiday Inn where the attack took place.

'Multiple attempts' on life

Just a few hours before the shooting, Jones wrote: "Best birthday everrrr. Appreciate everybody who pulled up we turnt up till we couldn't nomo.

"We otw to the show now yall pull-up."

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In April, when announcing the release of his latest album Resurrection, Jones posted that he had already survived "multiple attempts" on his life.

The rapper, who had nearly one million monthly listeners on Spotify at the time of the shooting, had been making music since 2015.

Grew up 'in challenging circumstances'

Mr Fusco described him as "a kid who grew up in challenging circumstances, determined to defy the odds by any means possible and succeed in all that he did".

He added that Jones "became someone I deeply respected for his authenticity and I considered a friend".