Rap artist Silento receives 30-year prison term for culpability in fatal shooting of his cousin.
Ricky "Silento" Hawk, Rapper Behind "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," Gets 30 Years for Cousin's Slaying
After admitting guilt to his cousin's death in 2021, Atlanta rapper Ricky Lamar Hawk, best known as Silento, was slapped with a 30-year prison sentence. In a courtroom plea, Hawk, 27, confessed to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, firing a weapon during a felony, and concealing the death of another, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
His victim was Frederick Rooks III, a 34-year-old relative. On the cold morning of January 21, 2021, DeKalb County Police stumbled upon Rooks' lifeless body, marred by gunshot wounds, with 10 bullet casings nearby.
CCTV footage from a neighbor's home showed a white BMW SUV taking off minutes after the gunfire. Officers confirmed the vehicle belonged to Hawk, who had ferried Rooks before the shooting, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's office.
Hours later, Hawk was taken into custody, and during questioning, he fessed up to the crime. Ballistics tests matched bullets from the scene to a weapon seized from Hawk at the time of his nabbing.
Hawk's kinspeople urged a lengthier sentence at Rooks' family's grief-stricken plea, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution detailed. The rapper rose to fame in 2015 with "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," which ignited a dance craze. Since then, he released numerous albums. Yet, his stardom couldn't shield him from a tumultuous past, plagued by depression and violence, as revealed in a 2019 interview on The Doctors.
Before Rooks' murder, Hawk grappled with demons, having attempted suicide in 2020 and been taken into custody for domestic violence in Santa Ana, California, and assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles. Speeding incidents also stained his record. His publicist, Chanel Hudson, stated that Hawk had been wrestling with several mental health issues at the time of Rooks' slaying.
Atlanta
Marked Enrichment Data:- Ricky Lamar Hawk, better known as Silento, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and other charges related to the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, in January 2021.- Hawk accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to reduced charges after originally being charged with malice murder, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with credit for time served. He remains incarcerated as of June 2025.- Family members of both Hawk and Rooks were present at the plea hearing, with a family member expressing regret for the tragedy.- Hawk’s representatives have highlighted his struggles with mental health as a contributing factor in the case.- Hawk rose to fame in 2015 with the song "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" and has faced several issues in the years since, including depression, suicide attempts, domestic violence, and speeding incidents.
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Atlanta rapper Ricky Lamar Hawk, better known as Silento, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
- The plea agreement saw Silento pleading guilty to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and other related crimes, after originally being charged with malice murder.
- At the plea hearing, family members of both Hawk and Rooks were present, with a family member expressing regret for the tragic events.
- Hawk's representatives have emphasized his struggles with mental health as a contributing factor in the case.
- While rising to fame in 2015 with the song "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," Silento has faced numerous challenges, including depression, suicide attempts, domestic violence, and speeding incidents.
