Actor Akili McDowell Charged with Murder in Houston Shooting Incident

The actor Akili McDowell, who starred in the television series “David Makes Man” and had roles in “Billions” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” has been accused of fatally shooting a man in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Houston.

McDowell, 21, was charged last week with murder in the shooting death of 20-year-old César Peralta, which occurred on July 20, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said. McDowell remained in jail on Monday with a bail set at $400,000 for the murder charge. The attorney listed on his behalf in court records did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is an unfortunate situation and I am in prayer for Akili and those affected by this tragedy,” said his representative, Jonell Whitt, adding that he had no further comments.

The sheriff’s office said officers found an unconscious man with gunshot wounds after responding to a call about a shooting at an apartment complex on July 20. The sheriff’s office stated that several witnesses told officers that the man had a physical altercation with another individual, who fled on foot after the shooting.

“David Makes Man,” which aired on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, followed a teenage boy named David, portrayed by McDowell, who tried to juggle relationships between his public school friends and drug traffickers in his impoverished South Florida neighborhood.

According to the entertainment database IMDb, McDowell appeared in several episodes of “Billions” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and has a role in the recently released film “The Waterboyz.”