Atlanta rapper Silentó gets 30 years after pleading guilty to killing his cousin

What happened?

Silentó (Ricky Lamar Hawk), known for his viral 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)“, pleaded guilty but mentally ill on June 11, 2025, to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a crime, and concealing a death in the 2021 shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III en.wikipedia.org+14apnews.com+14the-sun.com+14.
Under a plea deal, a murder charge (malice murder) was dropped in exchange for reduced sentencing the-sun.com.

He received a 30-year prison sentence, with credit for time already served since his arrest in February 2021 11alive.com+7the-sun.com+7youtube.com+7.
During the sentencing, Rooks’ siblings voiced that they found the sentence “too lenient” and demanded “justice” wnyt.com+4the-sun.com+4ew.com+4.
As part of his plea (“guilty but mentally ill”), Hawk is expected to be placed in a correctional facility equipped to handle mental health needs, not just a standard prison cbsnews.com+2abcnews.go.com+211alive.com+2.

The fatal shooting occurred January 21, 2021, in Panthersville, DeKalb County, Georgia. Rooks, aged 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his face and leg fox5atlanta.com+8apnews.com+8the-sun.com+8.
Surveillance footage captured Hawk’s white BMW speeding away; GPS and ballistic evidence tied the vehicle and firearm to the crime scene cbsnews.com+4apnews.com+4the-sun.com+4.
Hawk was arrested February 1, 2021, and confessed to the shooting roughly 10 days later abcnews.go.com+7people.com+7ew.com+7.

Hawk has a documented history of mental health struggles, including on-air mentions of depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, and suicide attempts—he discussed these on The Doctors in 2019 en.wikipedia.org+5ew.com+5cbsnews.com+5.
In 2020, he faced legal troubles including:
- A speeding arrest in Georgia (143 mph)
- A domestic violence incident in California
- An assault with a hatchet in Los Angeles wnyt.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5people.com+5youtube.com+5apnews.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5cbsnews.com.
His publicist and legal representation emphasized these ongoing mental health battles, with statements urging public support and describing his “demons.” apnews.com+1wnyt.com+1.

This clip features courtroom and news footage covering the sentencing.

Justice system decisions: The plea lowered charges significantly, raising debate over whether the 30-year sentence sufficiently addresses the severity of the crime.
Mental health in criminal cases: It highlights how psychiatric conditions and plea bargains intersect, potentially influencing public opinion on treatment vs. punishment.
Cultural fallout: Once a teen icon, Silentó’s fall reflects both the pressures of early fame and the cultural conversation around accountability and rehabilitation.

Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper into court records, mental health implications for creatives, or the victim’s family’s response.