Ricky Hawk a.k.a. Silento sentenced to 30 years for 2021 death of cousin in Atlanta After Failed Insanity Plea
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DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A judge has sentenced Atlanta rapper Silentó to decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing his cousin.
The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Ricky Hawk, pleaded guilty, but mentally ill, to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and other charges in connection with the 2021 deadly shooting.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 21, 2021, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a report of a person shot at a home off of Deep Shoals Circle and Corners Crossing.
At the home, police found 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbors told police that they heard gunshots and a security camera on a nearby home caught a white BMW SUV fleeing the scene shortly after the shots.
One of Rooks' family members said that the victim was last seen with Silento, who picked him up from a friend's home in a white SUV.
Investigators did not have a suspect at the time but later identified Hawk as the gunman.
After Silento was taken into custody, prosecutors say he admitted shooting Rooks. Bullet casings from the scene also reportedly matched a gun found on the rapper at the time of his arrest.
Hawks was scheduled to go back to court but pre-trial hearings have been postponed due to an attorney conflict. After a second examination for insanity, he stood trial.
Where it all began
Where it all began
On the afternoon (3:35 pm) of January 31st, rapper Silento or Ricky Lamar Hawks was arrested for the murder of his cousin, Frederick Rooks, 34.
Dekalb County Police responded to shots fired on January 21 around 3:30 am in the Panthersville area where they found Rooks dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his face and leg as reported by DeKalb police Lt. Rod Bryant.
Following the shooting, investigators said it appeared that Rooks knew the residents at one of the homes on Deep Shoals Circle, where they found Rooks in the middle of the street. Officers found at least eight bullet casings around Rooks.
Ring camera video from neighbors caught several cars leaving the scene. Investigators later connected the shooting to Hawk and arrested him. He was arrested twice within 1 week in Aug 2020 for domestic violence and trespassing and for speeding in Oct. 2020.
Dekalb County Police responded to shots fired on January 21 around 3:30 am in the Panthersville area where they found Rooks dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his face and leg as reported by DeKalb police Lt. Rod Bryant.
Following the shooting, investigators said it appeared that Rooks knew the residents at one of the homes on Deep Shoals Circle, where they found Rooks in the middle of the street. Officers found at least eight bullet casings around Rooks.
Ring camera video from neighbors caught several cars leaving the scene. Investigators later connected the shooting to Hawk and arrested him. He was arrested twice within 1 week in Aug 2020 for domestic violence and trespassing and for speeding in Oct. 2020.
The Case for Insanity or Delusional Compulsion
Prior Incidents of Violence and Delusion
In October of 2020, Hawk had been pulled over for driving 143 miles per hour on the I-85 and was charged with reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane and improper stopping. He claimed he is always being followed by people and by satellite, adding that Donald Trump calls him daily for help.
Hawk initially argued with the officer about how fast he was going and insisted that he'd done nothing wrong even asking to inspect the equipment. Hawk per body-cam footage stated, "If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person, and you could go and look on your computer and it would tell you that."
Prior to that arrest he was charged with inflicting corporal punishment on a spouse or cohabitant at a Santa Ana, California home in the 100 block of MacArthur Boulevard on August 28th. He was booked and released.
Hawk appeared to be delusional as he managed entry into a stranger's unlocked home armed with a hatchet claiming to be looking for his girlfriend. The incident took place at a Valley Village area of Los Angeles on August 29th. Hawk was driven 2 blocks away by a friend then arrested at 1:50 p.m. in the 12700 block of Albers Street, near Bellaire Avenue and about a block from Burbank Boulevard. He was allegedly swinging a hatchet at the two people inside before one of them disarmed him. Hawk was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
In October of 2020, Hawk had been pulled over for driving 143 miles per hour on the I-85 and was charged with reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane and improper stopping. He claimed he is always being followed by people and by satellite, adding that Donald Trump calls him daily for help.
Hawk initially argued with the officer about how fast he was going and insisted that he'd done nothing wrong even asking to inspect the equipment. Hawk per body-cam footage stated, "If there is like 10 cars following me, I can do 143 because I am not a regular person, and you could go and look on your computer and it would tell you that."
Prior to that arrest he was charged with inflicting corporal punishment on a spouse or cohabitant at a Santa Ana, California home in the 100 block of MacArthur Boulevard on August 28th. He was booked and released.
Hawk appeared to be delusional as he managed entry into a stranger's unlocked home armed with a hatchet claiming to be looking for his girlfriend. The incident took place at a Valley Village area of Los Angeles on August 29th. Hawk was driven 2 blocks away by a friend then arrested at 1:50 p.m. in the 12700 block of Albers Street, near Bellaire Avenue and about a block from Burbank Boulevard. He was allegedly swinging a hatchet at the two people inside before one of them disarmed him. Hawk was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.