‘David Makes Man’ actor Akili McDowell is charged with murder in man’s shooting in Houston

HOUSTON — Actor Akili McDowell, who starred in the television series “David Makes Man” and had roles in “Billions” and “The Astronaut Wives Club,” has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man in the parking lot of a Houston apartment complex, authorities said.

McDowell, 21, was charged last week with murder in the July 20 shooting death of Cesar Peralta, 20, the Harris County sheriff’s office said. McDowell remained in jail Monday on $400,000 bond on the murder charge. The attorney listed for him in court records did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is an unfortunate situation and I am praying for Akili and those affected by this tragedy,” said his manager, Jonell Whitt, adding that she had no further comment.

The sheriff’s office said deputies 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 said several witnesses told deputies the man was in a physical fight with another man, who fled on foot after the shooting.

“David makes man,” which aired on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN, was about a teenager named David, played by McDowell, trying to maintain relationships between his friends at magnet school and drug dealers in his impoverished South Florida neighborhood.

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