Rapper Silento sentenced to 30 years in prison

Dubai: Silento, the rapper known for the viral 2015 hit Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for fatally shooting his cousin in 2021.

Silento, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty but mentally ill according to the report by Variety magazine. 

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution News, Silento plead guilty to a reduced charge from malice murder to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and concealing the death of another.

In January 2021, Frederick Rooks III, Silento’s 34-year-old cousin suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. One of Rooks’ family members mentioned that Silento was the last person seen with Rooks.

He was then taken into custody and admitted to shooting Rooks.

Silento’s publicist at that time, shared that the rapper was struggling with mental health issues. In a post on social media, the publicist said, “Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses. 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.”

The musician, who released his hit song as a junior in high school, shared his struggles with mental health over the years. According to reports, this wasn’t his first encounter with the law enforcement.

In 2020, Silento was arrested in August for domestic violence and later that year, for driving 143 miles per hour (approximately 230 km/hr).