Atlanta rapper Silentó, known for his viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin.
📌 What Happened To Silentó?
Atlanta rapper Silentó, best known for his 2015 breakout hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has officially been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
The 27-year-old artist, whose real name is Ricky Hawk, entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to multiple charges including voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault stemming from the deadly shooting that took place in January 2021.
🚨 The Deadly Night In Question
In the early morning hours of January 21, 2021, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to reports of gunfire near Deep Shoals Circle in Georgia.
At the scene, they found 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots, and surveillance footage captured a white BMW SUV fleeing the area.
Investigators later confirmed that Rooks had last been seen with Silentó—who had picked him up in a similar vehicle.
Prosecutors say bullet casings at the scene matched a gun found on the rapper at the time of his arrest. Hawk eventually admitted to the shooting.
💬 Silentó’s Mental Health & PR Statement
After his arrest, Silentó’s publicist Chanel Hudson released a heartfelt statement, urging the public to consider the rapper’s long struggle with mental health:
Please send my client Silentó some positive vibrations.
Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses…
Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whipping’ & nay nay-in with him, continue to support him and lift him in prayer!!
God bless.
🎶 From Viral Fame To Tragedy
Silentó became a household name in 2015 when “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” skyrocketed up the charts—reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and launching a global dance craze.
He was just a high school junior at the time.
But his rise to fame was soon followed by a string of legal troubles:
- In 2020, he was arrested in Georgia for driving 143 mph on Interstate 85.
- That same year, he was also charged in Los Angeles for allegedly attempting to attack two people with a hatchet inside a home.
⚖️ The Verdict & What’s Next
After spending more than three years in custody at the DeKalb County Jail, Silentó appeared in court and accepted a plea deal.
A DeKalb County Superior Court judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison.
As of now, he will serve the majority of that sentence behind bars, with the possibility of parole down the line depending on good behavior and mental health evaluations.
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