Akili McDowell has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to a shooting that took place on July 20 in Houston. The 21-year-old actor was initially booked on August 1 and charged with theft before being booked on the murder charge on August 2.
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On August 3, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez released a statement on Facebook, stating that the actor was charged with the shooting death of 20-year-old Cesar Peralta. He was recently booked into the Harris County Jail, and the shooting reportedly occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The investigation is ongoing. It is unknown about the nature of McDowell’s connection to the victim and how he came to be charged, as investigators have not disclosed this information, according to the New York Post.
McDowell is recognized for his roles in Showtime’s “Billions,” “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and the OWN series “David Makes A Man.” He gained recognition for his role in “David Makes A Man,” a series based on the life of Oscar-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, who is known for writing “Moonlight.” McDowell was 15 when he earned the role and was grateful for the opportunity.
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The outlet also reported that McDowell explained to Vulture in a 2019 interview that he could relate to his character’s life: “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 is scheduled to appear in court on August 6 for the theft charge and on October 9 for the murder charge.
Wow I’m really lost for words right now R.I.P to the young man.