US rapper Silento charged with murder after his cousin shot dead

The 23-year-old, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, is best known for the hit Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)
Silento
Getty Images
Leah Sinclair2 February 2021

Rapper Silento, known for the hit Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), has been charged with murdering his cousin, police in the US state of Georgia have said.

The 23-year-old, whose real name is Richard Lamar Hawk, was arrested on Monday for the killing of Frederick Rooks, according to the DeKalb County Police Department.

Mr Rooks, 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on January 21 and died from his injuries.

Mr Hawk was identified as the suspect and arrested. He is currently held in the DeKalb County Jail.

Silento is currently being held in the DeKalb County Jail
DeKalb County Police Department

Prior to his arrest, Mr Hawk shared an Instagram story inviting his 494,000 followers to send him money via CashApp for "selfies, videos and shoutouts."

Mr Hawk skyrocketed to worldwide fame in 2015 with his Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) which spawned a popular dance challenge on social media.

The song, which he penned in his basement at the age of 17, peaked at number three on the US Billboard charts while the video has been watched 1.7 billion times on YouTube.

He was alleged to have walked into a stranger's unlocked home and attacked two people before one of them disarmed him, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The rapper was also reportedly arrested in October for speeding at 143 miler per hour.

Additional reporting by PA Media

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