Akili McDowell, a 21-year-old actor known for his roles in "Billions," and "David Makes Man," has been charged with murder in connection with the July 20 shooting death of 20-year-old Cesar Peralta in a Houston apartment complex parking lot.
McDowell was initially booked on August 1 with a theft charge before being charged with murder on August 2. He is being held on a $400,000 bond for the murder charge and a separate bond for allegedly stealing headphones in July 2023.
Charge documents state that McDowell intentionally caused Peralta's death by shooting him with a firearm. He is scheduled to appear in court for both charges in August and October.
According to investigators, a dispute occurred during a drug transaction between McDowell and Peralta, leading to McDowell allegedly shooting Peralta multiple times. Peralta was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing the victim in a fight with an unidentified male who fled on foot after the shooting. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, with authorities seeking information from the public regarding Peralta's death.
McDowell, a Houston native with around 14,000 Instagram followers, has expressed gratitude for his opportunities in the entertainment industry and has spoken about his experiences working with influential personalities.
McDowell starred in the TV series "David Makes Man," where he connected with his character's story of a Black student in a South Florida housing project. He has also appeared in films like "The Waterboyz" and "Criminal Activities," and has two projects in post-production.
McDowell's manager, Jonell Whitt, offered prayers to the victim's family and to McDowell but declined further comment. McDowell's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comments, while his representative expressed prayers for him and those affected by the tragedy.
In 2019, McDowell spoke with Oprah Winfrey about his starring role in David Makes Man, a series about a young prodigy navigating poverty.
Sources: NYTimes, NYPost, TheDailyBeast, SacBee, DailyMail, WashingtonTimes, Independent, The Sun, La Voz, DailyCaller, TheJasmineBrand, iHeart, Suggest, UNILAD, Sportskeeda, Focus.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
