Rapper Silento Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing his Cousin
Atlanta’s famous rapper Silento sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks III. The incident took place in 2021. The rapper shot his own relative and killed him. The DeKalb County Court has given him a long sentence of thirty years while giving a strict verdict in this case.
Silento Admitted His Crimes
Silento, a 27 years old young rapper, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, has voluntarily pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston issued a press release on Wednesday, June 11. Silento pleaded guilty not only for murdering his cousin but also to charges of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and concealing information about death.
According to the evidence presented in the Court, there was a dispute for something between Silento and his cousin Rooks. The dispute gone so serious that the rapper shot his cousin in anger. The incident not only surprised the whole music world but it was a big shock for his fans, as Silentó was known as a talented artist.
How did the Murder Happen?
On January 21, 2021, at around 3:37 pm, DeKalb County Police received a report of a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found 34-year-old Frederick Rooks near Deep Shoals Circle and Corners Crossing in the Panthersville area, riddled with bullets. Rooks had died by the time the medical team arrived.
Police investigation found 10 bullet casings lying around Rook’s body, indicating that the attacker had fired multiple shots. Also a security camera footage showed that Silentó was seen fleeing the scene in a white BMW SUV.
Silento Confession and His Lawyer’s Defense
Silento was arrested on February 1, 2021. During interrogation, he confessed to the murder of his cousin. However, his lawyers in defence claimed that Silento is mentally ill. His lawyers further claimed that he has been suffering from depression and other psychological problems for a long time.
Was Mental Illness the Reason For Reducing Silento’s sentence?
Silentó’s lawyers tried their best to reduce his sentence. They made his mental condition the basis for reducing the sentence but the court did not accept this argument. The judge said that mental illness cannot excuse someone for a heinous crime like murder.
The prosecution proved that Silentó had intentionally killed his cousin and they had solid evidence to prove him guilty. After this, the court sentenced him to 30 years in prison, with no possibility of parole.
His PR manager Chanel Hudson issued a statement saying, “Please send positive vibrations to my client Silento. Ricky has been suffering from serious mental illnesses for the last several years. We are working to treat him, but in the meantime we request everyone to pray for him and his family.”
Silento Has Been Involved in Violent Incidents Before
This was not the first time Silento was accused of violent crimes.
Entering to A Stranger’s House: Before this incident, in August 2020 he was accused of forcibly entering a person’s house and attacking him with an axe. At that time he had entered a stranger’s house in search of his girlfriend.
Earlier also Silento had spoken openly about his mental struggles in the media. In 2019, on the medical talk show The Doctors where he said, “I’ve been fighting demons all my life. When you become famous, depression increases even more. Everyone is watching you and judging your every move.”
Impact on the Music World?
Silentó’s song “Watch Me (Whip Nae Nae)” became so famous that he was counted among the emerging rappers of Atlanta. But Silentó’s 30 year sentence means his career is completely over now. His fans on social media are expressing sympathy for him while some others condemned the brutal killing.
Silento’s case is a tragic story of talent and violence. While he made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, his mental problems and violent tendencies destroyed his life.
This case is a reminder that we should take mental health issues seriously. It also raises the question of whether there should be better mental health support and counselling for celebrities to prevent such incidents.
