Silentó, born Ricky Lamar Hawk (27), was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Georgia court. In January 2021, the rapper was found guilty of shooting his cousin, Frederick Rooks III. The fatal altercation occurred in Decatur, where Frederick was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds in front of a residential building. Surveillance cameras captured the fleeing of the scene in a white car that was later identified as Silentó. The musician pleaded “guilty but mentally ill” in court, according to E! Online and other sources.
The investigation revealed that the ten cartridge cases found at the crime scene were from Silentó’s weapon. He admitted to the crime and pleaded guilty to additional charges such as aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony, and concealing a death. The original murder charge was dismissed as a result of his guilty plea. His guilty plea, combined with his disclosure of mental health issues, will ensure that he receives care in a psychiatric facility while incarcerated. The conviction marks the tragic end to a career that began so promisingly.