Akili McDowell, a rising star on the Oprah Winfrey Network, has been arrested on murder and theft charges in Texas. Police say the 21-year-old TV actor gunned another man down in a dispute over marijuana.
McDowell got his first break on the show “David Makes Man” on Oprah’s TV station. He also starred on Showtime’s hit “Billions.” But McDowell was known for playing another role he the Thorntree Apartments near Uvalde, TX. Everyone in the building called him “the weed man.”
Witnesses say 20-year-old Cesar Peralta approached McDowell and tried to buy drugs from him. An argument ensued and a fistfight broke out. That’s when police say McDowell pulled out a gun and shot Peralta.
“When the complainant went to his car, he [McDowell] shot him again and again,” said prosecutors in court.
Peralta died at the scene. McDowell fled the scene on foot and then jumped on social media to promote his upcoming movie “The Waterboyz.” He doesn’t seem to have been worried that anyone would rat him out.
McDowell’s breakout role was ironically a show about a struggling black teen trying to make his way out of the ghetto.
During a promotional interview with Oprah for the show, he told her, “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.”
Looks like that message didn’t sink in.
McDowell is being held in the Harris County Jail on one charge of murder and one charge of theft. His bail has been set at $400,000. McDowell’s agent calls it an “unfortunate situation” and says he’s praying for the young man.
