Atlanta rapper Silentó, whose 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” once made him a viral sensation, has officially begun serving a 30-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III. The 27-year-old artist, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, accepted a plea deal in a Georgia courtroom earlier this month and is now in custody. His newly released mugshot has circulated online as the sentence takes effect.
The January 2021 shooting marked a tragic turning point in the rapper’s life, culminating in a series of legal troubles and mental health challenges. Hawk entered a plea of “guilty but mentally ill” to charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In return, prosecutors dropped the more severe murder charge, and the court handed down a 30-year prison term followed by 10 years of probation.
The incident occurred on January 21, 2021, near Decatur, Georgia. When police responded to the scene, they discovered Rooks had sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his face and leg. Investigators later linked ballistic and surveillance evidence to Hawk, who was arrested ten days later. According to court filings, Hawk admitted to the shooting in a recorded interview with law enforcement…