Fact Check: Ricky Lamar Hawk, 27, who performs as Silentó, entered the plea on Wednesday for charges including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and concealing the death of another.

Fact Check: Silentó Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter and Other Charges

What We Know

Ricky Lamar Hawk, known professionally as Silentó, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges related to the fatal shooting of his cousin, Frederick Rooks III. On June 11, 2025, Hawk entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to charges including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another. The incident occurred on January 21, 2021, when Rooks was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in Decatur, Georgia. Security footage showed a white BMW SUV, which matched the vehicle Hawk used to pick up Rooks, fleeing the scene shortly after the gunfire was heard (CBS News).

Hawk was arrested on February 1, 2021, and during police interviews, he admitted to shooting Rooks. Initially charged with murder, this charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement (HuffPost). The plea of guilty but mentally ill allows for Hawk to receive mental health treatment while serving his sentence, as stated by the DeKalb County District Attorney's office (People).

Analysis

The claim that Silentó, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, pleaded guilty to the charges mentioned is substantiated by multiple reputable sources. The New York Times and CBS News confirm that Hawk pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other related charges. The details surrounding the incident, including the timeline of events and the circumstances of Rooks' death, are consistently reported across various news outlets, such as Variety and Yahoo News.

The sources used in this fact-check are credible and well-established news organizations, which enhances the reliability of the information presented. Each source corroborates the details of the plea agreement and the charges against Hawk, indicating a high level of accuracy in reporting.

However, it is important to note that Hawk's mental health struggles have been highlighted in the media, with his publicist stating he had been "suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses" prior to the incident (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). This context adds complexity to the case but does not detract from the factual accuracy of the claims regarding his guilty plea.

Conclusion

The claim that Ricky Lamar Hawk, known as Silentó, entered a plea for charges including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and concealing the death of another is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms the details of the plea and the associated charges.

Sources

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2. Atlanta rapper Silentó sentenced to 30 years in cousin's ...
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8. Atlanta rapper Silentó gets 30 years after pleading guilty to ...