by Sharelle B. McNair

August 7, 2024

Bloomberg Philanthropies To Donate Whopping $600M To Four HBCU Medical Schools

'Lack of funding and support, driven probably in no small part by prejudice and racism, have forced many to close their doors. We cannot allow that to happen again, and this gift will help ensure it doesn’t.'

Bloomberg Philanthropies is giving $600 million to four historically Black medical schools—Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine—in an effort to secure their future economic stability.

Funding will also be granted to create a new medical school in New Orleans, the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, in partnership with Ochsner Health, a leading nonprofit academic healthcare provider in Louisiana.

The gifts to the historically Black medical schools’ endowments are part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative. The money will help increase historically Black medical schools’ historic commitments to diversifying the medical field and training future medical professionals and doctors. The money will also help students’ financial stability as tuition keeps rising.

While speaking at the annual National Medical Association convention in New York, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Founder and former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg highlighted the value of this financial support.

“Lack of funding and support, driven probably in no small part by prejudice and racism, have forced many to close their doors,” Bloomberg said, according to the Associated Press. “We cannot allow that to happen again, and this gift will help ensure it doesn’t.”

Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse will receive $175 million each, while Charles R. Drew University will get $75 million. Five million dollars will be given to Xavier’s new medical school as a grant.

Research has shown that Black Americans face greater health risks in comparison to white Americans. Medical experts feel that a higher presence of Black doctors is a key solution to address the long history of medical inequities. In 2022, only 6% of doctors in the U.S. were Black, although Black Americans represent 13% of the population. Nearly half of Black physicians graduate from the four Black medical schools.

Dr. David M. Carlisle, President and CEO of Charles R. Drew, called the gift “a transformative investment.”

“It will significantly enhance our ability to educate and empower diverse healthcare professionals who are committed to serving underserved communities and becoming leaders dedicated to health equity and social justice,” Drew said. “We are confident this gift’s impacts will be felt in South Los Angeles, California, across the United States, and globally for decades.”

Bloomberg seconded those thoughts.

“We have much more to do to build a country where every person, regardless of race, has equal access to quality health care—and where students from all backgrounds can pursue their dreams,” Bloomberg said. “Addressing health disparities and underrepresentation in the medical field are critical challenges, and Bloomberg Philanthropies is dedicated to making a difference. By building on our previous support, this gift will empower new generations of Black doctors to create a healthier and more equitable future for our country.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies has been a strong advocate for the advancement of Black medical students. In 2020, the organization gave $100 million to the same schools, the largest philanthropic gift from a single donor to the schools.

The following year, an additional $6 million was given to expand the schools’ efforts to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines in underserved communities.

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 7, 2024

Sonya Massey’s Family Pushes For Law Change That Hinders Cops From Bouncing Between Departments

Something can be done to stop this from happening over and over again....

The family of Sonya Massey, the unarmed Black woman killed by police in July 2024, wants an Illinois state law changed that allows police officers to be hired by other departments despite shady records, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Massey’s father, James Wilburn, claimed that a reform of the controversial Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act could have prevented his daughter’s death. Signed into law by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021, the legislation expanded efforts so decertified police officers couldn’t work for other departments throughout Illinois.

Before a change in the law, officers could only be decertified if convicted of a felony and specific high-level misdemeanors, such as aggravated assault or domestic battery. Now, several forms of misconduct are considered grounds for decertification, including tampering with video evidence or failing to provide aid to a victim after using force.

It was revealed that the record of Sean Grayson, the officer who shot and killed Massey on July 6, held a long line of negative offenses that should have been a red flag for hiring departments. Before being hired by Sangamon County in May 2023, Grayson had six law enforcement jobs in four years. He also had two drunk-driving convictions and was ejected from the U.S. Army for “serious misconduct.”

When he worked for a sheriff’s deputy in Logan County, Grayson was reprimanded for ignoring a command to end a high-speed chase that resulted in a deer being hit.

Wilburn called on state Sen. Doris Turner to start the call to have the bill changed. “Illinois can be No. 1, state senator,” Wilburn said. “Introduce the bill tomorrow, that when you resign in lieu of being fired from a police department, you don’t go on to the next one.”

He recommended it be named “The Sonya Massey Bill.”

While Turner labels herself a family friend of the Masseys, she admitted that the process isn’t that easy. “Before we file any new legislation, we always look at what’s currently on the books,” she said. The SAFE-T Act created a new process called discretionary decertification. The process allows the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to investigate a complaint of misconduct made by a citizen or law enforcement agency.

Before the tragic shooting, there was nothing on Grayson’s record that would result in an automatic decertification. Since April 2024, Chicago nonprofit Impact for Equity found no officer had faced discretionary decertification since the SAFE-T Act provision took effect in 2022.

However, according to CNN, deaths such as Massey’s are avoidable. Grayson has been filed under what experts call a legion of “wandering officers” who go from police department to police department after being fired, forced to resign, or convicted of a crime. The International Association of Chiefs of Police says the continuous pattern should be a red flag.

“The shooting again underscores the critical need for police agencies to thoroughly vet potential hires,” the statement read.

“The pattern and nature of frequent job changes by a police officer should raise flags about their suitability for the policing profession.”

Husband, Wife, Entrepreneurs, 401K, couples, budget, inconsistent, money, pay, money, relationship, finance, book

by Derek Major

August 7, 2024

Husband And Wife Entrepreneurs’ 5 Tips On Being Successful In the Workplace

'A lot of the problem is that, as Black professionals, a brand is already created for us in the workplace. So, if you do not create your own brand, you will be given your own brand.'

Originally Published Aug. 23, 2021.

Entrepreneurs Raphael and Opeyemi Sofoluke want to help Black professionals thrive in the workplace and have written a book providing tips and ways to separate yourself.

Raphael is the founder of networking events, including the UK Black Business Show and UK Black Business Week, while Opeyemi is a diversity and inclusion lead at Facebook. The British couple’s new book, Twice As Hard, aims to be a handbook for Black professionals. The book includes advice and input from 40 successful Black men and women, including Matthew Knowles, the father of Beyoncé.

“There wasn’t ever a guide for Black entrepreneurs and professionals that as young adults ourselves that we could turn to, to look for advice on how to navigate White spaces,” Raphael told Business Insider.

Here are are the five biggest takeaways for Black professionals to succeed:

Build your personal brand in workplace early in your career

Raphael writes it’s important for Black professionals to work on projecting their own self-image. There is significant evidence suggesting non-Black managers and employees hold racial stereotypes about their Black colleagues, intentionally or unintentionally.

“A lot of the problem is that, as Black professionals, a brand is already created for us in the workplace,” Raphael said. “So, if you do not create your own brand, you will be given your own brand.”

Bianca Miller-Cole, entrepreneur and founder of personal branding consultancy Be Group, says in the book that a Black person in a new job has to prove they’re qualified for the job and and disprove any stereotypes colleagues may have about you.

Back Yourself

Due to the stereotypes of Black people that can persist in a workplace, the Sofolukes believe it’s important for Black professionals to have confidence in themselves.

One of the biggest lessons in Twice As Hard is not just to work hard but to vocalize the value of your work internally. It may feel uncomfortable for an employee to self-advocate, especially in an environment where they are the minority, but tooting your own horn is a must to be successful.

Kenneth Gibbs, a marketing executive at Amazon, says in the book to “never assume that your work will speak for itself, especially in an environment where there is potential to be overlooked.”

Bring your authentic self to work

Opeyemi encourages Black professionals to be their best, authentic self to work.

“We each have multiple social identities and how we draw on these identities is dependent on the environment and situation in which we find ourselves,” she writes, adding that Black people entering corporate settings may feel insecure about how their colleagues perceive them and whether they fit in.

According to the book, this is especially true for Black women, who may feel pressure to change their hair in a corporate setting. Trina Charles, an influencer, writes that “the corporate world, for the most part, does not permit a lot of self-expression of Black women, or men and that’s just the reality, so it’s either you show up or you don’t. My advice is you show up, just take that step, take that leap to be yourself.

“So if that means showing up with your natural hair out, do it—deal with the questions, nip it in the bud, and set the precedent, because, if you don’t, then you’ll have to assimilate for the rest of your time there. If you don’t set the precedent, it will be set for you.”

Combine a strong work ethic with societal capital

According to the Sofolukes, being a hard worker is not enough for Black professionals. It must be combined with networking and building genuine relationships.

“An individual can work hard and build a reputation as the go-to person, or the problem solver for their department, but if the individual is not considered a thought leader, or is not seen as someone who can drive organizational strategy, then an opportunity to progress can easily be missed,” Opeyemi writes.

Find a sponsor and a mentor

Having a sponsor is an underrated part of the work environment that can do wonders for your career. Allyson Zimmermann, a director at Catalyst, says in the book, “While mentors may be seen as career developers, sponsors are considered to be career accelerators.”

The Sofolukes write that having a sponsor is more critical to success than a mentor because for Black professionals “having a sponsor or senior leader in your corner who is willing to clear away systematic roadblocks in order to propel your career forward, is invaluable.”

In order to attract a sponsor, the couple suggests performance, potential, and passion.

“When a sponsor decides to invest in you, they do so because of what they believe you can be, and not necessarily because of what you are today—they see a greatness in you and it’s that greatness that they want to nurture,” Opeyemi writes

RELATED CONTENT: Celebrating Black Business Month 2024

Ricard Moore, death row, execution, South Carolina

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 6, 2024

Black Man Who Killed Girlfriend’s Family For $1K Stimulus Check Sentenced To 145 Years In Prison

'I think about the 7-year-old losing her life, and I think everybody asks the same question about the 7-year-old—why?'

Malik Halfacre, the man who killed members of his girlfriend’s family, including a 7-year-old girl, over a stimulus check, was sentenced to 145 years behind bars, Law and Crime reports.

Halfacre of Indianapolis learned his fate after pleading guilty in June 2024 for murdering Eve Moore, 7, Dequan Moore, 23, Tomeeka Brown, 44, and Anthony Johnson, 35, in March 2021 for a $1,400 stimulus check. Halfacre’s girlfriend, Jeanettrius Moore, was also shot but survived, hiding under a neighbor’s porch.

The crime happened after Halfacre rifled through Moore’s purse to look for a stimulus check she received during the COVID-19 pandemic. When law enforcement arrived, they found Moore, who alerted them that Halfacre had fled with the couple’s 6-month-old daughter after the shooting. Halfacre’s sister then called the police and said the child was with her.

Halfacre knocked on the door and came inside to drop the baby off and “all of the baby’s stuff” at his sister’s home before leaving, according to a probable cause affidavit. The sister told detectives that her brother admitted to the killings.

“She then described how he called a friend on her phone, and the friend agreed to help Mr. Halfacre get out of town,” according to the affidavit.

The friend helped police locate Halfacre, who was at his girlfriend’s home. SWAT’s arrival resulted in a standoff that lasted hours, but eventually, Halfacre was taken into custody. He then told police he and Moore were arguing “because he wanted some of her stimulus check.’ After he shot everyone, “he took the money, J.M.’s purse, and her car and left the scene.”

According to 13 WTHR, Halfacre pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He also was charged with armed robbery, felon carrying a handgun, and auto theft. Due to his criminal history, Prosecutor Ryan Mears pressed for a 180-year sentence, the maximum granted under Indiana state law, but was satisfied with the sentence.

“We are thankful for the dignity, grace, and patience the family and the survivor have shown throughout such an unimaginably difficult process,” Mears said in a statement. “The defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison, and this resolution provides finality to the criminal matter as our community continues to heal from this horrific tragedy.”

Mears and his team also considered the death penalty. “I think about the 7-year-old losing her life, and I think everybody asks the same question about the 7-year-old—why?” he said. “I have a 3- and 4-year-old.”

Victim Anthony Johnson’s wife, Gwendolyn, said her husband was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He stopped by Moore’s house just to visit and was caught in the crossfire. “He had just celebrated a birthday on March 2nd,” the widow said. “He told me that this was the happiest he had ever been. He was happy about his job. He was the number-two salesperson on his sales team.”

After seeing her story online, rapper T.I. and his wife, Tiny, donated $6,500 for Johnson’s funeral expenses.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 6, 2024

St. Louis Teen Finally Comes Clean About Viral Fight That Caused Brain Damage Of White Student

Maurnice Declue will be placed on supervised probation after her charges were lessened.

A St. Louis teen has admitted to the viral fight with Kaylee Gain. Maurnice Declue will be charged with second-degree assault for the March 8 altercation that left Gain with brain damage.

Declue was originally detained as a suspect in the incident, which allegedly occurred between the two students near Hazelwood East High School. With her charges downgraded from first-degree assault, Declue admitted to her involvement. KSDK first covered the assault that made national headlines.

In the video, the teen was seen allegedly slamming Gain’s head into concrete, resulting in seizures. Declue’s lawyer, Greg Smith, expressed how the 15-year-old “accepted responsibility” for her actions.

“I think she understood the situation; she understood and accepted responsibility for her own conduct,” Smith shared. “We never believed she was guilty of assault in the first degree. That’s knowingly causing serious physical injury, suggesting that was her intent all along to cause those serious injuries. Under the situation she found herself in, she was acting under the influence of sudden passion.”

Declue spent three months in juvenile detention but has since been released. She is now under court-supervised probation. Smith suspects the appointed juvenile officer will supervise the high schooler for up to a year. She expects to return to school this fall.

As for Gain, the teenager will need another surgery to reinsert a piece of the skull initially removed. She also continues physical and mental therapy.

Given the nature of the fight, Gain’s lawyer and state politicians originally called for Declue to be tried as an adult. The attorney used a now-debunked social media post of Declue allegedly mocking the incident as the basis for the charge. Since its retraction, the attorney apologized. Moreover, a court hearing in May confirmed Gain threw the first punch.

Declue’s family, who identified her in the video, also maintains that the frequent bullying led to her intense fighting.

New Jersey, Noiré Dispensary, cannabis, Black-owned

by Daniel Johnson

August 6, 2024

Simply Pure Trenton is Reportedly the First Black-Owned Multistate Dispensary

In addition to giving Black-owned businesses prime real estate in their shop, Simply Pure also partnered with ButACake, a Black-owned concentrates company, to build out marketing displays at its stores.

Tahir Johnson and Wanda James made history by partnering to push Johnson’s Simply Pure Trenton franchise into multiple states via a licensing agreement, bucking the popular trend of partnerships with established multistate operators.

According to MJ Biz Daily, Simply Pure is believed to be the first Black-owned multistate retail operator. The business scaled up using outside investors and debt and equity deals, which Johnson described as the route that made the most sense to the outlet.

“I had bigger companies with deeper pockets that wanted to partner, but that wouldn’t have made sense. Not only am I part of the brand, but I get Wanda, herself, as a mentor.”

Johnson, also the president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and a member of MJBiz Daily’s Advisory Council, described the business’ practice of dedicating shelf space to other Black-owned cannabis products to the outlet. “It’s right in the center of the floor, in the most prominent area in the dispensary, so those brands get the most attention.”

In addition to giving Black-owned businesses prime real estate in their shop, Simply Pure also partnered with ButACake, a Black-owned concentrates company, to build out marketing displays at its stores.

ButACake CEO Matha Figaro told MJ Biz via email that the initiative is important and models a path for collectivism and collaboration between minority-owned brands.

“This opportunity represents the strength in collaboration for minority-owned brands striving for visibility in the competitive cannabis market,” Figaro wrote.

Figaro continued, “The exposure from being on Simply Pure’s shelves not only amplifies our reach but also underscores the importance of equitable shelf placement.”

For James’s part, she believes that Simply Pure’s reception at its grand opening weekend late in July portends a bright future for a collaboration that the two described as a passion project.

“It was a heartfelt turnout. This one held so much weight. Everyone was just ready for this. The industry was a passion for both of us,” James told MJ Biz Daily, “and we both had a lot of the same feelings about business, what the plant stood for, and what it could mean for the community.”

by Keka Araújo

August 6, 2024

Did Tennis GOAT Serena Williams Mistakenly Call Out The Peninsula Restaurant In Paris?

The restaurant responded.

While enjoying the festivities of this year’s Summer Olympic Games, Serena Williams called out a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris after the tennis legend claimed she and her children were denied entry.

On Aug. 5, in a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the Olympic champion expressed her frustration, stating that she and her family were not allowed into the rooftop restaurant L’Oiseau Blanc at The Peninsula. Williams noted that this was the first time her side had denied her access to her family.

Yikes, @peninsulaparis, I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in [an] empty restaurant of nicer places, but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024

Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids. Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024 pic.twitter.com/lEGJR5WoEn
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 5, 2024

Regarding the debacle at The Peninsula, fans and supporters quickly added their two cents to the tennis great’s situation.

You’re better off not going, their food is subpar — I’ve unfortunately had to pay for it quite a few times.
— Lateef (@LateefSaka) August 5, 2024

How does one get denied when they are Serena Williams…… lol
— Anthony Varrell (@V_arrell) August 5, 2024

Paris restaurants typically only book to capacity and they don’t expect to turn tables multiple times each evening. So if a booking is made for 8pm, they will not seat someone at that table at 7. So at 7pm a restaurant may look empty at the moment, but every table is actually…
— Adrienne Dueck (@AdrienneDueck) August 5, 2024

The Peninsula responded to Williams with an apology, explaining that the establishment hadn’t slighted her and her children– it was merely booked with no availability.

“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved,” the restaurant penned from its X account.

Dear Mrs. Williams,
Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.
Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.
— The Peninsula Paris (@peninsulaparis) August 5, 2024

Mike Tyson, JAKE PAUL, medical, incident, contain, scare, boxing

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 6, 2024

Mike Tyson Hilariously Recalls Giving Away 2 Bentleys To Avoid Trouble

When Tyson was heavyweight champion, he had owned seven Bentleys while making several millions

When former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was on top of the world, knocking out fighters and making millions per fight, the money flowed so much that he was known to give out Bentleys just because he could afford to.

According to Finaruh, the Brooklyn-bred cannabis enthusiast and legendary boxer admitted to giving away an expensive Bentley or two over the years to keep himself out of trouble. In a video filmed in 2019, while speaking to comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan, Tyson relayed a story about giving a Bentley to someone who got into a car accident with his then-wife, Robin Givens.

Tyson was asked about owning several Bentleys, and he admitted to having many but also confessed to giving away a few of them. He explained that he did so because of Givens at the time.

“I was married at the time to Robin Givens, and we were in some fast food joint where we ordered food, and she went in my pocket, I guess, to get some money out my pocket to pay for it, and she saw some condoms come out. She was mad so she got in the car. Boom! She crashed the car into another that was just parked there. Boom. She hit somebody. She hurt their arm, and the cops came.”

He then explains that the cops arrived and questioned what took place. He said he didn’t have a license and didn’t want Givens to get in trouble for hitting the guy, so he told the officers that “nothing happened.”

He said that the guy had a broken arm, and he just offered to give the Bentley to the guy to avoid him and Givens being arrested. He told Rogan that the guy accepted it, which was the end.

In another interview, posted several years ago on DJ Vlad’s channel, Ed Lover told a story of hanging out with Tyson, and due to being with him, he was given a Bentley after chilling with him at a club in Queens, New York. He tells how Tyson buys the bar out, has fun, and chills with women. After hanging out for a few hours, Ed said that since he had rode with Tyson to Queens from Manhattan and had to return to the city to get his car, Tyson gave him the Bentley. After Ed had driven the car around for several weeks, Tyson’s manager contacted Ed and told him he was coming to pick up the vehicle. Ed made arrangements, and the manager retrieved the car.

Ed said that 15 years later, he ran into Tyson, and while they were talking, Tyson told him that he didn’t want the car back, and he gifted it to Ed, but the manager was jealous that Ed had the car, so he went and got the car back. Ed acknowledged that he never knew the car was gifted to him, but, at the time, he drove it like it was his.

Kamala Harris, Trump, Philadelphia, debate

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 6, 2024

Battleground State Polls Show VP Kamala Harris Tied With Trump But Outperforming With Black Voters

Things are looking up for the Vice President!

New polls show Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in the battleground states, but Harris is winning Black voters over by a landslide, The Hill reports.

The CBS News/YouGov poll surveyed roughly 3,100 registered voters between July 30 and Aug. 2. Both candidates are tied with 50% support from each of the battleground states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. However, Harris leads Trump 50% to 49% nationally in a head-to-head race. Trump has a small one-point lead in Wisconsin and a three-point lead in Georgia and North Carolina, while Harris is two points ahead in Nevada.

With third-party candidates added, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee holds a 2-point lead over the GOP candidate.

According to the outlet, the major key boost in numbers for Harris comes from Black voters, a critical demographic for the vice president, with 74% guaranteeing their support of Harris compared to when President Joe Biden was the nominee, with 58%. In total, Harris has 81% support from Black voters, compared to 73% support for Biden. The gap comes as no surprise to Democratic strategists who issued a warning that the president was losing ground with the key demographic for months.

According to CBS News, Black voters feel Harris will cater to all Americans, including them. However, GOP voters and lawmakers worry she will only help the interests of Black people over white people. For Harris’ voters, they are confident she will look out for everyone — regardless of gender or race.

Overall, voters on both sides of the aisle are now seemingly excited about Harris’ nomination and November 2024 voting. Even for Trump supporters, one-third of GOP voters are seemingly more motivated to vote with Harris on the ballot now. When it comes to candidate qualities, voters feel confident in Harris’ ability to match up more closely with Trump.

The vice president’s advantage over Trump touches on having the mental and cognitive capacity to serve, a key issue for Democrats when Biden was the nominee. Her energy rate is 69% over Trump’s 61% and 56% to Trump’s 52% regarding being focused.

Harris’ race entrance has also widened the gender gap between the candidates, with the vice president winning 54% of women’s votes, while Trump has won 54% of men.

As voters consider the country’s climate, most voters — both Harris supporters and beyond — feel America is ready for a Black woman to be president, taking into account 75% of independent voters and close to half of Republicans. Such viewpoints have shifted over the years. In 2000, almost more than one-third of the country supported the idea of a Black president-elect. The numbers increased in 2008 when former President Barack Obama was the Democratic nominee, and most of the country supported the narrative.

Actor Brian J. White, Detain Man, wildfire

by Daniel Johnson

August 6, 2024

Actor Akili McDowell Charged With Murder In Houston

McDowell, who starred in an OWN Network show, “David Makes Man,” at 16-years-old and was considered a rising star in the film and TV industry, is accused by the Harris County Sheriff’s office of shooting Peralta and fleeing the scene.

Actor Akili McDowell has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Cesar Peralta on July 20 at a Northeast Harris County apartment complex.

According to ABC-13, the 21-year-old McDowell, who starred in the OWN Network show David Makes Man at 16 years old, attended North Shore High School, and was considered a rising star in the film and TV industry, is accused by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office of shooting Peralta and fleeing the scene.

On July 20, Harris County sheriff deputies responded to calls about a shooting. Upon arrival, they found a man, identified as Peralta, unresponsive from multiple gunshot wounds. EMS workers pronounced Peralta dead at the scene.

According to investigators, Peralta is believed to have gone to the apartments to purchase marijuana from McDowell, who neighbors allege was known as “the weed man.”

In McDowell’s first court appearance, prosecutors argued, “This defendant was seen talking to the complainant. They had a fistfight. The defendant pulled out a pistol and shot him once. When the complainant went to his car, he shot him again and again.”

According to a witness who declined to be identified, McDowell sped off after gunshots were fired. McDowell is currently held on a $400,000 bond but informed the court that he can’t afford a lawyer and has been assigned a public defender.

According to The New York Times, McDowell is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 9. Jonell Whitt, McDowell’s manager, offered prayers to both McDowell and the family of the victim in a statement but declined any further comments.

“This is an unfortunate situation and I am in prayer for Akili and those impacted by this tragedy,” Whitt told the Associated Press.

According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, “On July 20, 2024, Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an incident that occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 13503 North Thorntree, near Wallisville and Uvalde (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 sheriff’s office continued, updating their initial report, “Arrest update: 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. The investigation is ongoing, and we encourage anyone with info to contact the Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100.”