Silentó is asking for forgiveness after pleading guilty but mentally ill in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin.
The 27-year-old rapper, born Richard Lamar “Ricky” Hawk, issued a statement on Thursday, June 12, just hours after being sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of Frederick Rooks.
“I will continue to make music and work on becoming the best possible version of myself,” Silentó shared through his publicist, Chanel Hudson-O’Connor. “I can’t reverse time, but I can serve the time I’ve been given lawfully, and strive to positively contribute to whatever my new environment may be.
“I entered this industry as a teenager, often without proper guidance or direction. While that is not an excuse, it is part of my truth. I pray for growth, evolution, and the ability to find forgiveness — for myself and for this entire situation. God bless y’all.”
Silentó, widely known for his 2015 breakout hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was arrested in early 2021 for the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks. He confessed to the crime roughly 10 days after his arrest and was initially charged with malice murder and felony murder.
On Wednesday, June 11, the rapper entered a plea deal, pleading guilty to lesser charges—voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another. Variety reports that Silentó will receive credit for the time he has already served since 2021.
“This was not a crime of passion or a crime of a morally depraved person. He was mentally ill,” said Silentó’s attorney, Keith Adams, in a statement to ABC News. Adams revealed that his client had been struggling with mental illness since the age of 12, even during the height of his music career.
Thanks to the plea deal, Silentó could become eligible for parole in about 10 years. He’s been transferred to the Georgia Diagnostic Center in Jackson for processing and will soon be relocated to a mental health facility where he is expected to serve the remainder of his sentence.
“I’m hoping that he won’t be at the Diagnostic Center for too long, because they’re already familiar with his mental health issues,” Adams added. “I expect within the next month to two months, he’ll be placed where he’s supposed to be. No one is beyond redemption… I think he has an opportunity to come out and resume his position as a productive member of society, while properly being treated for his mental health.”
