Popular rapper sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder

DDM News

American rapper Silento has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the 27-year-old, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, received the sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and firearm possession.

Silento rose to fame in 2015 with his viral hit Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), but his career took a dark turn in recent years.

The murder occurred in January 2021, when police in DeKalb County, Georgia, found Rooks, aged 34, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators later confirmed that Silento had been seen with Rooks shortly before the shooting, driving a white BMW SUV.

Surveillance footage captured the same vehicle speeding away from the scene just moments after the gunfire.

The evidence led to Silento’s arrest and eventual confession, closing a case that shocked fans and the entertainment industry.

Following the incident, his publicist, Chanel Hudson, issued a statement revealing that the rapper had long battled mental illness.

“He has been suffering from a series of mental health illnesses for the past several years,” Hudson said.

Silento’s history of troubling behavior came to light, with prior incidents suggesting a pattern of instability.

In August 2020, just months before the murder, he was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly attacking two people with a hatchet.

He was accused of breaking into a home and threatening the occupants, leading to two counts of assault.

In 2019, the rapper had appeared on the medical talk show The Doctors, where he publicly discussed his mental health struggles.

“I have been fighting demons my whole life. I don’t know if these demons will ever go away,” he admitted on the program.

Those who knew him say that fame and fortune may have worsened his condition rather than provided relief.

Legal analysts say his guilty plea likely helped reduce the severity of a potential life sentence.

The court took into account his mental health history during sentencing, though it did not absolve him of responsibility.

The judge stressed that while mental illness is a serious issue, it cannot excuse the taking of another person’s life.

Silento’s legal team declined to comment after the sentencing, but reports suggest they will not be appealing the decision.

Frederick Rooks III’s family welcomed the verdict, expressing relief that justice had been served.

In a statement, they described Rooks as a loving son, brother, and friend whose life was cut short by senseless violence.

They called for greater awareness and support for individuals battling mental health issues before tragedy strikes.

Silento’s fall from stardom has been cited as a cautionary tale about the pressures of fame and the need for mental health support in the entertainment industry.

Once a teen sensation whose dance moves captivated millions, he now faces three decades behind bars.

The sentencing marks a tragic chapter in the rapper’s life and a sobering reminder of the consequences of untreated mental illness.

As fans react with shock and sorrow, many have taken to social media to share memories of Silento’s rise and fall.

Some hope his story will spark conversations about mental health, violence, and accountability in the hip-hop world and beyond.

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