Akili McDowell, the actors best known for his portrayal of Savion Williams in the Showtime drama “Billions,” has been charged with murder. Authorities confirmed that McDowell is charged with the fatal shooting of a man in a Houston, Texas, apartment complex parking lot.
The Harris County sheriff’s office confirmed that the 21-year-old actor was charged last week with the death of 20-year-old Cesar Peralta. The shooting took place on July 20, and McDowell has since been jailed with a $400,000 bond on murder charges.
Here’s What Happened
On July 20, authorities arrested McDowell after Cesar Peralta was found dead in a parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Peralta was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
According to charging documents, McDowell intentionally caused Peralta’s death by shooting him. On August 3, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez posted new information on Facebook, describing how deputies responded to the incident at 13503 North Thorntree, near Wallisville and Uvalde in East Harris County.
“An adult male (possibly in his 20s) sustained gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Suspect(s) fled the scene,” the post reads.
An update also said that the investigation is still ongoing and that anybody with information about the incident should contact the Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100.
The sheriff’s office also confirmed that multiple witnesses told deputies who arrived on the scene that the victim appeared to have been in a physical altercation with another man who fled after the shooting.
While the full details remain unclear, and McDowell will obviously have his chance in court to defend himself, the shooting has cast a huge shadow over the young actor’s already impressive career. During an interview with Oprah in 2019, McDowell described how he landed his first major role in the TV series “David Makes Man” at the young age of 15. He praised his work, and the support of those who made the show, saying that it proved that anybody can “be something.”
Who could have possibly seen this coming?
