An Atlanta rapper, known for the 2015 hit “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)”, was arrested on Monday for the alleged murder of his cousin, according to authorities.
Silentó, whose real name is Richard “Ricky” Lamar Hawk, was charged with the murder of Frederick Rooks, 34, and is being held in DeKalb County prison, officials said.
Officers found Rooks suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on a highway in the Atlanta area on January 21, according to the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD). He was pronounced dead at the scene.
RAPPER SILENTO LOADED AFTER ANY THREATENING TWO STRANGERS WITH A HATCHET
A DKPD investigation later identified Hawk, 23, as the suspect, police said.
“Investigators are still working to find out the reason for the shooting,” according to the department.
Rapper Silento poses for a portrait in New York on July 21, 2015. (Photo by Drew Gurian / Invision / AP, Archive)
Silentó has a history of legal issues. He was arrested last October and accused of driving at 143 km / h on a Georgian highway.
RAPPER SILENTO ARRESTED AFTER PASSING 143 MPH ON THE GEORGIA ROAD, TELLS THE POLICE THAT HE IS NOT ‘A REGULAR PERSON’
In September, the rapper was charged with assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attempting to attack two people in his home with an ax.
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“Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” reached third place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been viewed almost 1.8 billion times on YouTube.
Fox News Tyler McCarthy and Jessica Napoli contributed to this report