Imani Smith, a former Broadway child performer best known for appearing in The Lion King, has died following a stabbing in New Jersey. She was 26.
Deadline is reporting that, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, police in Edison, New Jersey, responded to a 911 call early on the morning of December 21.
When officers arrived at a residence, they found Smith suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Smith appeared on Broadway as Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King from 2011 to 2012, performing in the long-running stage production at a young age. Her work in the show placed her among a generation of child performers who helped carry the legacy of one of Broadway’s most successful musicals.
Following an investigation, authorities arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, in connection with Smith’s death. Prosecutors said Jackson-Small and Smith “knew each other prior to the incident,” emphasizing that the stabbing was not believed to be a random act of violence.
While officials did not initially describe the nature of their relationship, Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, later identified Jackson-Small as Smith’s boyfriend in a GoFundMe post created to support the family.
Jackson-Small was taken into custody without incident and has been 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.
He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center while awaiting a court appearance. According to the most recent court records, no attorney is listed on his behalf.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Smith’s family set a $75,000 goal to help cover expenses and support her loved ones. The page states that Smith’s parents are grieving while also stepping in to care for her young son and her two younger siblings.
As of this writing, the fundraiser had raised approximately $65,000.
Smith is survived by her 3-year-old son, her parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, her aunt, and two younger siblings. In a message shared on the fundraising page, her aunt remembered her as “a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person,” adding, “Imani had her whole life ahead of her.”