Billions Actor Akili McDowell Arrested and Charged With Murder

Akili McDowell is facing serious allegations.

The actor—who starred in David Makes Man on OWN and appeared in Billions—was arrested and charged with murder in connection to a deadly shooting in Houston which occurred on July 20, authorities confirmed.

According to an August 3 update from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, “Homicide Investigators charged Akili McDowell (21) with murder in the shooting death of Cesar Peralta (20). McDowell was recently taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail.”

Gonzalez confirmed the investigation is ongoing and encouraged anyone with information to contact the department.

As Gonzalez previously shared, Harris County deputies responded to an incident in the parking lot of an apartment building August 20 where an adult male had “sustained gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene.” The statement also noted suspects had fled the scene.

It has not been confirmed yet how McDowell was identified as a suspect and apprehended.

In addition to being arrested and charged with murder on August 1, online jail records for Harris County show McDowell was also charged with theft and that his bond has been placed at $400,210 for both alleged crimes.

He has a court date appearance scheduled August 6 for the theft charge, and an additional date on October 9 for the murder charge.

E! News has reached out to McDowell’s attorney for comment but has not yet heard back.

McDowell had his first big break at the age of 16 in 2019’s David Makes Man, in which he portrayed the titular role.

At the time, McDowell reflected on the ways he related to David as a character.

“That’s why it was so important to me that I get this audition because, honestly,” he told Vulture in September 2019, “with David being raised by a single mother and him feeling like he had to be the man of the house at such an early age and make all these grown folks’ decisions and things like that, I’ve also felt like that in my life.”

McDowell continued, “He just wants to be there for his mom. She doesn’t gotta worry about David. That’s what he wants. David’s gonna do his job; David gonna get things done. And I felt that way in my life as well.”

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