Silento, the rapper behind the 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, has been charged with murdering his cousin.
The Atlanta rapper, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, was arrested yesterday (February 1) after his cousin Fredrick Rooks was found shot dead on January 21.
DeKalb County police confirmed in a statement on Twitter that the 23-year-old rapper was arrested and is being held in a jail in Georgia.
“Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34,” the police department wrote on Twitter.
“On January 21, the DeKalb County Police Department investigated Rooks’ death after he was found shot on Deep Shoals Circle.
“Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder. #WeAreDKPD.”
Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34. On January 21, the DeKalb County Police Department investigated Rooks' death after he was found shot on Deep Shoals Circle. Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder. #WeAreDKPD pic.twitter.com/AfaA8CtXgx
— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) February 1, 2021
Silento rose to fame following the success of his viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”, which has been viewed over 1.7 billion times on YouTube, and peaked at No.3 in America and No.19 in the UK.
He has been releasing music ever since but in 2020 he made headlines after being arrested for reckless driving in October, while he was charged with assault the month before for allegedly attacking two strangers with a hatchet in Los Angeles.
Police said they currently working on determining the motive for the killing of Frederick Rooks.
COMMENTS