‘Billions’ actor Akili McDowell arrested, charged with murder over parking lot shooting
“Billions” actor Akili McDowell has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to a deadly shooting.
The incident took place July 20 in Houston.
Online records obtained by The Post show that he was booked Aug. 1 and charged with theft before being booked with the murder charge Aug. 2.
McDowell, 21, is best known for appearing in Showtime’s “Billions,” starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and in the OWN show “David Makes Man.”
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez gave an update Aug. 3 via Facebook, stating, “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.”
The shooting happened in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
The Post confirmed that McDowell’s bond is $400,210 for both alleged crimes.
Gonzalez stated that the investigation is ongoing. He encouraged anyone with information to contact the department.
It’s not clear how McDowell came to be charged, or if he’s entered a plea or has an attorney. It’s also unclear what his connection was to the victim.
The series “David Makes Man” was created by Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”), loosely based on his life. McDowell starred as the titular character, a teenage prodigy from the projects.
As McDowell said in a 2019 interview with Oprah, he was 15 when he landed the role. He also said that “David Makes Man” shows “you can be something. You don’t have to settle for what everybody may think you’re going to be. You can work to be better. And you can be better.”
In an interview with Vulture in 2019, McDowell, who was then 16, said that he related to his character.
“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,” he said.
He added, “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.”
Talking to People about his breakout role in that same show in 2019, McDowell said, “I feel so blessed.”
McDowell’s court date is set for Aug. 6 for the theft charge and Oct. 9 for the murder charge.
The Post reached out to a rep for McDowell for comment.
