Infamous Rapper Silentó Arrested

By Kaiden Tran, Features Editor

DREW GURIAN/Invision

On Monday, Feb. 1, rapper Richard "Ricky" Lamar Hawk, better known as Silentó, was arrested and charged with the murder of Frederick Rooks. Rooks and Hawk were found to be cousins. Silentó is widely known for his hit song and viral dance craze “Watch Me (Whip/ Nae Nae)."

Previously on Jan. 21, Rooks was found injured at Deep Shoals Circle with multiple gunshot wounds after reports of shots fired came in around 3:30 a.m. Rooks passed away in the middle of the street before officers found him. From their investigations DeKalb Police Department (DKPD), connected Hawk to the bullet wounds Rooks endured leading to his arrested.

It is suspected that Rooks knew the residents of the houses on the street where he was shot. Police used multiple surveillance cameras from the area to piece together the crime and found multiple cars driving off with one gunshot recorded from the eight total Hawk faced.

“The people in the house know him, but he really don’t live there, so we’re trying to see what’s going on,” DKPD Lt. Rod Bryant said.

Chanel Hudson, Silentó’s publicist, stated that Hawk is dealing with serious mental issues, but is undergoing treatment for them. Hudson pleads for fans and readers of the recent news to pray for Silentó and his family.

“Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses,” Hudson said. “We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer.”

Before this incident, Hawk had been in police custody several times. In August 2020, he was indicted twice in a single week for domestic violence and gun charges in California where it is assumed he took a vacation from his home in Georgia. In October of the same year, he was booked by DKPD for speeding charges. It is stated that Hawk sped more than 140 mph on the I-85.

“If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person,” Hawks said regarding the speeding charges against him.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Hawk is currently being held without bond, meaning Hawk is unable to be bailed out by any cause.

As of Feb. 11, Hawk is still under police supervision and is residing in DeKalb County Jail.