A woman who starred in Broadway’s “The Lion King” as a child was stabbed to death over the weekend, New Jersey authorities said.
Edison police officers were called to a home on Sunday morning for a report of a stabbing and discovered 26-year-old Imani Dia Smith. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement On Tuesday. Smith was taken to a hospital for treatment of his stab wounds, where officials said he was pronounced dead.
A GoFundMe started by Smith’s aunt to raise money for Smith’s family states that she was “killed by her boyfriend.” According to the page, he is survived by his 3-year-old son.
“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” her aunt wrote. “She was a vivacious, loving and extremely talented person.”
Smith starred as young Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway for a year between 2011 and 2012. according to playbillHer mother is a hair stylist who has worked on theater, Broadway and television productions, including “The Lion King” show and the film adaptation of “In the Heights,” the publication said.
The investigation into the stabbing resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small. Authorities said he knew Smith, but did not provide details about the nature of their relationship.
He is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the prosecutor’s office.
According to inmate records, Jackson-Small is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility as he awaits a court hearing. Court records did not list an attorney for Jackson-Small as of Thursday.
