Actor Akili McDowell from ‘David Makes Man’ faces murder charges in Houston shooting

Actor Akili McDowell, known for his role in the TV series “David Makes Man,” as well as appearances in “Billions” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” is facing charges for allegedly shooting a man in a Houston apartment complex parking lot. The Harris County sheriff’s office has charged McDowell, 21, with murder in connection to the July 20 incident where 20-year-old Cesar Peralta was fatally shot.

McDowell is currently being held on a $400,000 bond for the murder charge. His attorney, as listed in court records, has not responded to requests for comment. Jonell Whitt, McDowell’s manager, expressed condolences, stating, “This is an unfortunate situation and I am in prayer for Akili and those impacted by this tragedy.”

Authorities responded to reports of a shooting at the apartment complex on July 20 and discovered an unresponsive man with gunshot wounds. Witnesses informed deputies that the man had been involved in a physical altercation with another individual, who fled the scene on foot after the shooting.

In “David Makes Man,” McDowell portrayed a character named David navigating relationships between his magnet school peers and local drug dealers in a disadvantaged South Florida neighborhood. Aside from his role in the series, McDowell also appeared in episodes of “Billions” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and featured in the recently released film “The Waterboyz.”