Silento Breaks Silence After 30-Year Sentence—Promises Redemption

Silento vowed to keep creating music and focus on personal growth after receiving a 30-year prison sentence for the 2021 shooting death of his cousin in Georgia.

The rapper, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, was sentenced Tuesday (June 11) by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson after pleading guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter and several related charges.

The plea deal included aggravated assault, firearm possession during a felony and concealing a death.

The 27-year-old admitted to killing 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III outside a Decatur home in January 2021.

Following the sentencing, Silento’s publicist, Chanel Hudson, released a statement on his behalf, thanking those who’ve stood by him during the legal ordeal.

In a personal message shared through Hudson, Silento addressed his future behind bars.

“I will continue to make music and work on becoming the best possible version of myself,” he wrote. “I can’t reverse time, but I can serve the time I’ve been given lawfully, and strive to positively contribute to whatever my new environment may be.”

Silento continued, “I entered this industry as a teenager, often without proper 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.”

Hudson added that the statement was a step toward “healing and much-needed closure for everyone affected.” She asked for continued prayers, especially for Silento, who is “battling severe mental health challenges.”

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A post shared by Chanel Hudson-Oconnor (@theiconchanel)

Court records show Silento had a documented history of psychiatric hospitalizations and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

His legal team cited erratic behavior leading up to the shooting as part of their defense. The court accepted his plea on the condition that he receive mental health treatment while incarcerated.