Young Nala from Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ remembered: Imani Smith killed in New Jersey days before Christmas
Imani Smith once stepped onto a Broadway stage as a child, embodying hope and wonder as Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. Years later, the same woman — remembered by loved ones as vibrant, loving, and fiercely talented — has become the center of a devastating tragedy.
According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Smith, 26, was killed inside a residence in Edison, New Jersey, just days before Christmas. The news of her death, as reported by CNN, has sent waves of grief through the theater community and beyond, where she was known not only for her early success on stage, but for the warmth and joy she brought into the lives of those around her.
Authorities say they were called to a home on Grove Avenue around 9:18 a.m. on Sunday, December 21, after a report of a stabbing. When first responders arrived, they found Smith suffering from stab wounds. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
An investigation led by detectives from the Edison Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office resulted in the arrest of 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small of Edison. Officials have stated that Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other and that the killing was not a random act of violence.
In interviews with CNN, Smith’s father, Rawni Helper, confirmed that Jackson-Small is the father of Smith’s three-year-old son. Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, shared further details through a GoFundMe campaign created to support the family in the wake of the loss, identifying Jackson-Small as Smith’s boyfriend.
“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 21st, just ahead of Christmas,” the fundraiser states. “Imani was only 26 years old. She leaves behind a 3-year-old son, her parents, her two younger siblings, and an extended family, friends, and community who loved her so very much.”
The message goes on to paint a portrait of a young woman full of promise. “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.”
Prosecutors have charged Jackson-Small with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and multiple weapons offenses. He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center while awaiting a pretrial detention hearing.
As the investigation continues, Smith’s family and friends are left grappling with an unimaginable loss — not only of a former Broadway star, but of a young mother whose greatest role, they say, was loving her son. Those with information related to the case are encouraged to contact Edison police or the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police say that this is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Kirsh of the Edison Police Department at 732-718-8064 or Detective Ankudowicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745- 8083.
For many who knew her story, Imani Smith will be remembered not for the way her life ended, but for the light she brought to the stage, to her family, and to everyone lucky enough to know her.
For more information about the tragic murder of this young mother from Edison, see the video accompanying this article.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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