‘Billions’ Actor Akili McDowell Arrested, Faces Murder Charges

“Billions” actor Akili McDowell has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a deadly shooting earlier this year.

McDowell, 21, is best known for appearing in Showtime’s “Billions,” starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti. Additional film and television credits include “The Astronaut Wives Club” and the OWN production “David Makes Man.

The actor was recently arrested in connection with a July 20 shooting in Houston, Texas. Online records reviewed by the New York Post indicate that he was arrested on August 1 for theft. He was then charged with attempted murder on August 1.

McDowell appears alongside Damian Lewis in the Showtime hit “Billions”

On August 3, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez provided residents with an update on the case.  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 stated that the fatal shooting took place in a parking lot and stressed that the investigation is ongoing. Investigators have called on anyone with knowledge of the shooting or the events leading up to it to come forward.

According to a report from the New York Post, McDowell’s bond was set at $400,210 for both alleged crimes. It is unclear whether the actor had any connection to the victim.

It is also not known whether McDowell has hired an attorney or entered a plea.

McDowell’s booking photo at the Harris County Jail

McDowell’s acting breakout came in 2019, when he starred in the lead role of “David Makes Man,” which was created by Oscar-winning director Tarell Alvin McCraney.

“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 said of the titular character during an interview with Oprah.

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