Akili McDowell Accused of Dealing Before Fatal Shooting

This week actor Akili McDowell was arrested on murder charges in Houston, TX [click here if you missed that]. 

Now sources close to the incident claim he was dealing d rugs just before the shooting...

From The Daily Mail

Actor Akili McDowell was often seen armed and dealing marijuana at his Houston apartment complex where he's accused of fatally shooting a man last month, neighbors told DailyMail.com.

The 21-year-old, who had roles in the Oprah Winfrey Network series David Makes Man and Showtime drama Billions, was arrested and charged with the July 20 murder of 20-year-old Cesar Peralta last week.

McDowell is accused of shooting Peralta multiple times in the parking lot of the Thorntree Apartments, where the victim had lived with his girlfriend and their one-year-old son.

Initial reports did not specify how McDowell was identified as a suspect or his connection to Peralta.

But neighbors and relatives told DailyMail.com that the budding actor was known as a small time dealer nicknamed 'the weed man' from whom Peralta had bought drugs moments before the fatal shooting.

Speaking to DailyMail.com on Wednesday, Peralta's sister, who also lives in the complex, said her brother was a mechanic who had come to the US from Honduras when he was 11.

She revealed Peralta was an aspiring rapper and became acquainted with McDowell, who promised to connect him with his producer.

She confirmed reports that the young dad-of-one had been buying marijuana from him at the time, during which she claims McDowell shot him 'for no reason.'

On the night of the shooting, prosecutors say Peralta had pulled up to the complex in a car with another individual and had been talking to McDowell outside.

The two then got into a 'fistfight' during which McDowell allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot Peralta once.

As Peralta attempted to turn back to his car, McDowell fired 'again and again', before fleeing the scene, prosecutors said.

Peralta sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.