Key Points:
- Silento has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his cousin in 2021.
- He admitted to using a gun and had a history of violent behaviour.
- His team says he suffered from mental health problems for years.
American rapper Silento, best known for his hit song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was found guilty of shooting and killing his cousin in 2021. The court also confirmed that Silento had a gun and attacked others in the past.
The 27-year-old, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and having a firearm. He admitted to killing his cousin, Frederick Rooks III, who was 34 years old.
The shocking crime happened on January 21, 2021, in DeKalb County, Georgia, USA.
A Deadly Night in 2021
On the night of the killing, neighbours heard gunshots. Police arrived to find Frederick Rooks lying on the ground. He had many gunshot wounds. He was already dead by the time help arrived.
Soon after the gunfire, a security camera caught a white BMW SUV speeding away. It was the same car Silento had been seen driving. Police quickly connected the car to the crime. Witnesses also said the two cousins were seen together earlier that day.
Long History of Trouble
Silento’s problems started long before the killing. In August 2020, he was charged with attacking two people with a hatchet. That incident happened inside a home, and both people were lucky to survive.
His team spoke out after his arrest. His PR manager, Chanel Hudson, said the singer had been suffering from mental illness for many years. She asked people to understand what he had been going through.
“I Have Been Fighting Demons”
In 2019, Silento appeared on the TV show The Doctors. There, he said something that now sounds like a warning. “I have been fighting demons my whole life,” he said. “I don’t know if these demons will ever go away.”
His words now sound even more sad and serious. Many fans are shocked by what has happened. A once-famous artist is now behind bars for taking the life of his own cousin.
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