Ricky Hawk, better known as rapper Silento, has officially been sentenced to 30 years in prison. This comes after he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to killing his cousin back in 2021. The case has closed a dark chapter in the life of an artist who once danced his way into pop culture with his 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).”
Now at 27, the same artist who brought millions of fans to the dance floor will spend decades behind bars for a deadly shooting that stunned his hometown of Atlanta.
Details of the incident
It happened in the early hours of January 21, 2021. Police in DeKalb County responded to a call about a shooting near Deep Shoals Circle and Corners Crossing. When they arrived, they found 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III lying outside with several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators talked to neighbors and checked nearby security footage. They saw a white BMW SUV speeding away shortly after the gunshots were heard. That same SUV was reportedly linked to Silento, who had picked up his cousin just before the shooting.
At first, police didn’t have a suspect. But later, evidence started pointing toward Hawk. Family members said Rooks had last been seen with him. And when police caught up to Silento, prosecutors said he confessed to the shooting. The bullet casings at the crime scene also matched a gun he had with him when arrested.
Mental health played a role
After his arrest, Silento’s PR manager, Chanel Hudson, spoke publicly. She shared that the rapper had been battling serious mental health issues for years. In her statement, she asked the public to pray for him and remember the joyful moments he brought with his music.
“Ricky is a beautiful soul,” she said. “We hope the same people who danced with him will keep him lifted in prayer.”
Even though he admitted guilt, the court took his mental state into account. By pleading guilty but mentally ill, the court recognized that while he knew what he was doing, his mental health had impacted his actions.
From viral fame to legal trouble
Silento exploded onto the music scene in 2015 while still in high school. “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” was a massive hit, climbing to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was everywhere. Social media flooded with dance videos and parodies. It became a global phenomenon.
But after that high point, his life began spiraling. He dropped his first full-length album Fresh Outta High School in 2019. Then came legal trouble.
In 2020, he was caught speeding at 143 mph on Interstate 85 in DeKalb County. That same year, he faced charges in Los Angeles for allegedly trying to attack two people with a hatchet inside their home. The warning signs were already showing.
After spending over three years in jail since his 2021 arrest, Silento faced a DeKalb County judge who handed down a 30-year sentence. The courtroom marked the end of a sad and shocking story that began with a bright young artist and ended in a tragedy no one saw coming.