Local Rapper Silento Arrested, Charged With Cousin's Murder: Cops

DECATUR, GA – Ricky Hawk, the local rapper known more commonly as “Silento” whose song, “Watch Me Whip/Nae Nae” went viral in 2015, was arrested and charged with murder on Monday, according to the DeKalb County Police Department.

Hawk, 23, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks, who was shot and killed on Jan. 21 on Deep Shoals Circle, police said Monday. Police arrived at the scene at 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 to find Rooks in the street with gunshot wounds.

According to reports, Rooks was found with eight shell casings around him and was he was pronounced dead at the scene. Ring cameras from the area showed several cars leaving the area following the shooting. Police do not yet have a motive for the shooting.

"Watch Me Whip/Nae Nae" rose to the top of the Billboard magazine Hot 100 list and earned Hawk notoriety. According to Rolling Stone, Hawk continued to perform under the name Silento but never achieved the level of success that came with his debut hit.

Chanel Hudson, who identified herself as Hawk's publicist, wrote in an Instagram post that her client has suffered "immensely" for the past several years with mental illness and will continue to seek treatment.

"Ricky is a beautiful soul and we hope that the same people who came up whippin' and nay naying with him, will support him and lifted (sic) in prayer," Hudson wrote in the post.

Rooks was arrested last August for reportedly driving 143 mph on I-85 and told police that he was being followed after leaving a club in Gwinnett County. Hawk is being held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail.