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American rapper Silento, known for the 2015 hit "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2021 shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
The 27-year-old, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to manslaughter, assault, and gun charges. The murder charge was dropped as part of a plea deal.
Police found Rooks shot multiple times. After reviewing security footage, they identified the white BMW Silento used to pick up Rooks, linking him to the scene. The rapper later admitted to the shooting.
Silento rose to fame as a teen but struggled with mental health issues and had several arrests before the killing. His team says he was suffering from a serious mental illness at the time.
In the year leading up to the shooting, Hawk faced multiple arrests, including for domestic violence, wielding a hatchet at strangers, and reckless driving.