Fact Check: The charges stem from the Jan. 21, 2021, shooting of Frederick Rooks III, 34.

Fact Check: "The charges stem from the Jan. 21, 2021, shooting of Frederick Rooks III, 34."

What We Know

On January 21, 2021, Frederick Rooks III, aged 34, was found shot multiple times at the intersection of Deep Shoals Circle and Corners Crossing in DeKalb County, Georgia. Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to the scene around 3:37 a.m. and pronounced Rooks dead shortly after their arrival. Investigators recovered ten bullet casings near his body, and a witness reported that Rooks had been last seen with his cousin, Ricky Lamar Hawk, known as Silentó, who had picked him up shortly before the shooting in a white BMW SUV. Security footage corroborated this account, showing the vehicle fleeing the scene shortly after gunfire was heard (source-1, source-2, source-5).

Silentó was arrested weeks later and admitted to the shooting. He subsequently pleaded guilty to charges including voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. On June 11, 2025, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for these offenses (source-2, source-6).

Analysis

The claim that the charges against Silentó stem from the shooting of Frederick Rooks III on January 21, 2021, is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. The timeline of events is consistent across reports, detailing the police response, the discovery of Rooks' body, and the subsequent investigation that led to Silentó's arrest. The police found bullet casings at the scene, which matched a firearm that Silentó possessed at the time of his arrest, further supporting the claim (source-3, source-7).

The sources utilized for this fact-check include reputable news organizations such as The New York Times, People, and ABC News, all of which have a history of accurate reporting. The consistency of the details across these sources adds to their credibility. Additionally, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office provided official statements regarding the case, further validating the information (source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that "the charges stem from the Jan. 21, 2021, shooting of Frederick Rooks III, 34" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that Silentó was indeed charged in connection with the shooting of his cousin on that date, leading to his conviction and sentencing.

Fact Check: The charges stem from the Jan. 21, 2021, shooting of Frederick Rooks III, 34.