‘Whip/Nae Nae’ rapper Silento arrested for cousin’s murder
(The AEGIS Alliance) – Atlanta-area rapper Silento, well-known for the hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was arrested for his cousin’s murder, who was discovered fatally shot in Georgia last month.
The 23-year-old musician, whose actual name is Richard Lamar Hawk, was taken into custody on Monday in connection with the death of Frederick Rooks. He was being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail on suspicion of felony homicide, a press release from the DeKalb County Police Department said.
Officers had been responding to reports of gunshots fired on January 21 when they found Rooks at about 3:30 a.m. in the neighborhood of Panthersville, a small Atlanta suburb. Authorities at the time stated the 34-year-old victim died on the scene that evening from a number of gunshot wounds.
According to an incident report obtained by NBC News, Rooks was struck once in his leg and once more in his face.
Security video taken close to the scene revealed a number of vehicles fleeing after the shooting. Neighbors informed authorities at the time that they heard a number of gunshots ring out and several automobile horns honking that evening.
Police spokesperson Michaela Vincent said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that after a “thorough investigation” the rapper was identified as the victim’s cousin and the “person responsible for Rooks’ murder.”
Silento’s “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” blew up on social media after its 2015 release. It spawned viral dance moves and challenges including those named for the song, “Whip” and “Nae Nae.”
Hawk’s tune also earned him a top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kyle James Lee – The AEGIS Alliance – This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
