Rapper Silentó Sentenced: 30 Years After Cousin's Death
TRAGEDY STRIKES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: Rapper Silentó Sentenced to 30 Years Behind Bars for Cousin's Murder
In a shocking turn of events, beloved rapper Silentó has been sentenced to a whopping 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks, more than four years ago. The news is sending shockwaves through the music industry, where Silentó was once a rising star with his viral dance single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" racking up nearly two billion YouTube views.
The 27-year-old Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawke, was sentenced in DeKalb County Court in Decatur, Georgia on Wednesday after entering a guilty but mentally ill plea to charges of firearm possession, aggravated assault, and concealing one's death. The charges stem from the January 2021 shooting death of Rooks, which authorities say was a tragic and senseless act.
But this isn't the first time Silentó has found himself in hot water. Prior to Rooks' death, the rapper had been arrested multiple times, including an October 2020 reckless driving arrest where he was clocked going 143 mph in a 65 mph zone. At the time, Silentó claimed he was being followed and that his celebrity status gave him permission to speed, telling officers, "If there are like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person and you could go and look on your computer and it would tell you that."
Silentó's fans were left reeling when news of the rapper's arrest broke, but few could have predicted the tragic events that would unfold just months later. According to authorities, Rooks' body was found lying on the side of the road in the Panthersville region of Georgia, with gunshot wounds to his face and leg.
The investigation that followed uncovered a trail of evidence pointing directly to Silentó as the culprit. And while the rapper initially faced charges of malice murder, he ultimately pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter as part of a deal with prosecutors.
But despite the reduced charge, the impact of Rooks' death has been devastating for his family and loved ones. In court on Wednesday, Rooks' brother told Judge Courtney L. Johnson simply, "I'm sorry for both sides." Meanwhile, his sister expressed hope that Silentó would come to understand the gravity of his actions during his three-decade prison sentence.
As news of the sentencing spread, fans and detractors alike took to social media to weigh in on the tragedy. With over 72,900 followers on Twitter under the handle @TheRealSilento, Silentó had built a significant following before his fall from grace. But with his last tweet dating back to October 2019, it's clear that the rapper's music career has come to an abrupt halt.
