Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway child actor best known for playing Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King, was stabbed to death at 25. Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case
Imani Smith
Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway child actor best known for voicing Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King, was stabbed to death. She was 25 years old. She was found with fatal stab wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital. Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been charged with first-degree murder.
About Imani Smith’s death
Imani Smith, known for playing Young Nala in Disney's popular The Lion King on Broadway, has passed away in an alleged homicide, reported Deadline.
As per the Middlesex County, NJ, Prosecutor's Office, Imani died after being stabbed on December 21. Police in Edison, NJ, responding to a 911 call, discovered the actress with stab wounds. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
In connection with Imani Smith's death, her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested. Smith is survived by her three-year-old son; parents Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper; her aunt; and two younger siblings.
Imani Smith’s boyfriend gets arrested
Jackson, who was arrested “without incident,” 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 being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Centre, stated Variety.
Notably, Smith's aunt, Kira Helper, in a GoFundMe post, identified Jackson-Small as Imani's boyfriend.
On the website, her aunt wrote, “It is with a tragic and heavy heart that we share the loss of my niece, Imani Dia Smith, who was senselessly killed by her boyfriend on the morning of Sunday, December 21, just ahead of Christmas.”
“Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was a vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented person—a true triple-threat performer. She most notably played the role of Young Nala on Broadway in Disney's The Lion King, an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world,” her aunt wrote.
As per a press release from Middlesex County, NJ, Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department, Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident.
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