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Roommates, Silent best known for his hit ‘Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)’ has been sentenced for his role in the 2021 shooting death of his cousin. As The Shade Room previously reported, police arrested the Atlanta rapper back in February 2021 and hit him with murder charges not long after.
TMZ reports that Silent, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, received a 30-year prison sentence for the 2021 shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III.
On Wednesday, June 11, the DeKalb County District Attorney revealed that he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another, per Fox5 Atlanta.
According to Fox5Atlanta, DeKalb County police officers responded to a shooting report at a home in January 2021. When they arrived, they found Silent’s cousin, Frederick Rooks III, with multiple gunshot wounds. Rooks later died at the scene.
Surveillance footage caught Silent fleeing the area in a white vehicle. Although investigators didn’t initially have a suspect, they eventually identified him as the shooter. After officers took him into custody, prosecutors said he confessed to shooting Rooks. Bullet casings at the scene also matched a firearm they found on him during the arrest.
Hours after the court sentenced Silent for the murder of his cousin, a member of his team released an official statement on his behalf. In the statement, SIlent apologized to his fans for the pain and disappointment he caused and shared his future plans for his music career.
“I will continue to make music and work on becoming the best possible version of myself. I can’t reverse the 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 environment as a teenager, often without 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.” Silent said in the statement.
The Roommates wasted no time sounding off in TSR’s comment section after news broke about Silent’s sentencing. See some of their reactions below.
Instagram user @kassius_brikkz wrote, “Idk how ppl get rich & crash out mannnnn.”
Instagram user @keymah_beautyyy wrote, “He let his Emotions get the best of him! Whole life gone !!!”
While Instagram user @grayhairedhottie_ wrote, ” ‘Family!’ Be careful, because some family are actually foes! ”
Then Instagram user @jayy_b29 wrote, “Back in my day, ya first cousin really highkey was ya sibling.”
Another Instagram user @king_unicdailystyle wrote, “I swear people hate freedom.”
Instagram user @swndlxisxdead wrote, “If im being honest, i feel like buddy was a lil off from the beginning.”
While another Instagram user @bossladyhanan wrote, “Ppl just dont care about their lives smh.”
Instagram user @micblaque wrote, “How you unalive ya mothers sister/ brother son? Like how you do that? Now you doing 30 years in torment with this on your mind. SMH some people man I tell you.”
Finally, Instagram user @sash_da_startist wrote, “Damnnn didnt even know he was on trial. Yikes.”
