2 days ago
‘Whip/Nae Nae' star Silentó‘s 30-year sentence: Rapper pleads guilty to cousin's murder
US rapper Silentó, who earned international fame for his debut single Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his cousin in January 2021.
The 27-year-old musician, real name Richard Hawk, pleaded guilty, but mentally ill, to voluntary manslaughter after shooting and killing his 34-year-old cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
The Atlanta rapper also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony crime and concealing the death of his cousin, according to People.
Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department found Rooks at an intersection suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Silentó admitted to the shooting in 2021 after being taken into custody.
At the time, Chanel Hudson, his PR manager, released a statement mentioning the rapper's mental health struggles, per Fox 5 Atlanta.
'Please send my client Silentó some positive vibrations. Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses,' Hudson said.
'We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask, in the meantime, the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer and positive energy,' Hudson continued.
'Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whipping' & nae nae-in with him continue to support him.'
