Rapper Silento Indicted for Murder in Georgia

A Georgia grand jury indicted rapper Silento for the shooting death of his cousin. The rapper was arrested in February and charged with one count of murder.

Frederick Rooks, the rapper’s cousin, was gunned down in Dekalb County on January 21. 2021. Police gathered film from several security cameras in the neighborhood to link the rapper, born Richard Hawk, to the crime.

“After a thorough investigation, DKPD detectives identified Hawk as Rooks’ cousin and the person responsible for Rooks’ murder,” Michaela Vincent, a spokesperson for the police department, said.

The Grand Jury added four felony charges, including one count of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and gun possession during the commission of a felony.

Hawks was thrust into the spotlight after his hit song “Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)” went viral in 2015. The song earned a number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list. The single is certified six-times platinum.

According to TMZ, Hawks’ team says that he was suffering from mental health issues for years.

Last year the rapper was arrested several times. In August, he was arrested twice for domestic violence in Los Angeles, California. He was arrested in October for speeding. Police officers clocked Hawks driving 143 mph on an Atlanta highway.

“If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person, and you can go look on your computer and it would tell you that,” an incident report quotes Hawks excuse for speeding.