American rapper Silento, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, in January 2021.
The 27-year-old musician, best known for his 2015 viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a firearm and aggravated assault in a DeKalb County courtroom, culminating a case that has drawn significant attention due to the artist’s public struggles with mental health.
On January 21, 2021, the DeKalb County Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in a residential neighborhood. Officers discovered 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Rooks was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police reports, witnesses identified a white BMW SUV fleeing the area moments after the shooting. Home security footage from a nearby residence later confirmed the vehicle speeding away, providing critical evidence in the investigation.
Investigators established that Rooks was last seen with Silento in the same white BMW SUV before the incident. Following an intensive manhunt, Silento was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.
In a 2021 confession, the rapper admitted to firing the fatal shots, though details of the events leading up to the altercation remain limited
Silento’s legal team and public relations manager, Chanel Hudson, have pointed to the rapper’s long-documented mental health challenges as a factor in the case. In a statement following his arrest, Hudson noted, “Ricky has been suffering from a series of mental health illnesses for the past several years, which have deeply impacted his life and decisions.”
The artist himself spoke candidly about his struggles in a 2019 appearance on the medical talk show The Doctors, where he revealed, “I have been fighting demons my whole life. I don’t know if these demons will ever go away.” Silento’s openness about his mental health had garnered sympathy from fans at the time, but his legal troubles have since painted a more complex picture.
The 2021 shooting was not Silento’s first encounter with the law. In August 2020, just months before Rooks’ death, the rapper was charged with two counts of assault after allegedly attacking two individuals with a hatchet in their home.
While details of that incident remain sealed, it underscored a troubling pattern of violent behavior that prosecutors highlighted during the murder trial.
Legal analysts suggest that Silento’s prior charges and the overwhelming evidence in the Rooks case—including the security footage and his confession—likely influenced the decision to accept a plea deal rather than proceed to a full trial, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
The sentencing has elicited mixed reactions from fans, the music industry, and the DeKalb County community. Rook’s family, who attended the sentencing, declined to comment publicly but released a brief statement through their attorney expressing gratitude for the judicial outcome while mourning the loss of their loved one.
Frederick was a kind, hardworking man who deserved to live, the statement read. “No sentence can bring him back, but we hope this brings some measure of closure.” In the music world, Silento’s fall from grace has been a topic of somber reflection.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
American rapper Silento, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and firearm possession in the 2021 fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
The case, marked by compelling evidence including security footage and Silento’s confession, highlights a tragic outcome of the rapper’s well-documented mental health struggles, which he described as a lifelong battle with “demons.” While the sentencing brings closure to Rooks’ family, it emphasizes a critical need for improved mental health support, particularly for young artists, to prevent such devastating consequences.
