Atlanta Rapper Ricky Hawk Known as Silento Arrested in the Murder of His Cousin Frederick Rooks

Popular rapper Silento, best known for the hit 2015 single "Watch Me," was recently arrested for his involvement in the murder of his cousin who was found dead last month.

Silento, the 23-year-old Atlanta rapper who got his big break in 2015 after releasing the hit track "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" has been arrested on a charge of murder.

In a tweet by DeKalb County Police Department, it was confirmed that Silent, real name Ricky Hawk was arrested on February 1 following the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks on January 21.

From the tweet, Silento appears to be the prime suspect as the police department revealed they have already carried out some investigations. Currently, the rapper is being held at the DeKalb County Jail.

News of Silento's arrest comes as a shock to his fans who took to the comments section sharing their thoughts and opinions about the rapper's alleged involvement in his cousin's death.

Rooks was found on Deep Shoals Circle, Atlanta, in the early hours of January 21. He had been shot and was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers reportedly arrived at the scene after responding to neighbors' complaints about several gunshots. Security footage recovered from the scene showed many cars fleeing.

In 2017, the rapper was also temporarily banned from the United Arab Emirates after a dispute with a show promoter.

Though the police department is yet to share more information about their investigation, it has been confirmed that Silento is being held without bond.

Silento rose to fame in 2015 after releasing the internationally acclaimed hit single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)." The song garnered commercial success, landing him a spot on the Billboard 100 and several award nominations.

On YouTube, "Watch Me" has racked up over a billion views making it one of the most-watched videos on the social media platform. Though Silento has released more songs in the last few years, none has done quite as well.

Silento's recent arrest comes only after months of having several run-ins with the law. In 2017, the rapper was also temporarily banned from the United Arab Emirates after a dispute with a show promoter.

Going from fame to a convict is not exactly the most inspiring story, but as the case unfolds, Silento's fans will keep their fingers crossed, hoping to see their favorite rapper a free man once again.