Silentó Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for 2021 Murder of Cousin

Atlanta rapper Silentó, best known for his viral 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.

The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing on Wednesday, stating that the 27-year-old artist—real name Ricky Lamar Hawk—pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another.

A Shocking Crime That Shook the Hip-Hop Community

The tragic incident took place in DeKalb County, Georgia, where police officers responded to reports of a shooting. They discovered Rooks’ lifeless body, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds. Shell casings were found scattered across the scene, raising immediate suspicions of a targeted attack.

Investigators later obtained surveillance footage showing Silentó fleeing the area in a white BMW, which led to a deeper probe into his involvement. Forensic ballistics testing played a key role, matching the bullet casings from the crime scene to a weapon recovered from Silentó.

A Troubled Past and Mental Health Struggles

Ten days after the incident, Silentó reportedly confessed to the killing, but claimed his actions were fueled by a longstanding mental health crisis that had plagued him since childhood. His legal team cited a suicide attempt in 2020 as evidence of his deteriorating psychological state.

Despite these revelations, the judge ultimately decided that a 30-year prison sentence was a fitting punishment for the violent crime.

From Viral Stardom to Prison Time

Silentó’s fall from grace is a chilling reminder of how fame, mental illness, and unaddressed trauma can collide with tragic consequences.

At just 17 years old, he skyrocketed to fame with “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” a track that earned him viral stardom and a place in pop culture history. But behind the scenes, Silentó reportedly struggled with severe mental health issues and erratic behavior.

Now, the former teen sensation faces a harsh reality—three decades behind bars for a crime that ended a life and altered his own forever.