Watch Me Nae Nae: Atlanta Rapper Silentó Sentenced to 30 Years for Cousin's Murder
Ricky Lamar Hawk, better known as Silentó, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, acknowledging his role in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III. The Atlanta rapper, famed for the viral sensation “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was sentenced to 30 years in prison by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.
In addition to voluntary manslaughter, the 27-year-old also admitted guilt to charges of aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm during a crime, and concealing a death. A murder charge was dismissed as part of the plea deal.
On January 21, 2021, police discovered Rooks outside a residence in a suburban area near Decatur, suffering from gunshot wounds to his leg and face. Investigators found ten bullet casings at the scene and reviewed security footage that captured a white BMW SUV fleeing shortly after the gunfire.
A relative of Rooks informed authorities that Silentó had picked him up in that same vehicle. GPS data corroborated the SUV's presence at the crime scene. Following his arrest, Silentó confessed about ten days later, with ballistics tests linking the casings to a firearm he possessed at the time.
During the sentencing hearing, Rooks’ siblings expressed their belief that Silentó deserved a harsher punishment, as reported by local media. The rapper's rise to fame began in high school in 2015 with his hit song, which ignited a dance craze across social media platforms.
Despite his success, Silentó has openly discussed his struggles with mental health. In a 2019 interview on “The Doctors,” he revealed the impact of depression on his life and career. “I’ve been fighting demons my whole life,” he stated, emphasizing that fame does not alleviate personal struggles but rather intensifies them.
His mental health challenges became more pronounced leading up to his arrest. Publicist Chanel Hudson disclosed that Silentó had attempted suicide in 2020. His legal troubles escalated with multiple arrests, including a domestic violence incident in Santa Ana, California, where he allegedly brandished a hatchet during an altercation.
In another incident in October 2020, he was apprehended for speeding at 143 miles per hour on Interstate 85 in DeKalb County. Hudson reiterated that Silentó had been “suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses” prior to the tragic events surrounding Rooks' death.
