Authorities in New Jersey have charged a man with the murder of his girlfriend, Imani Smith, who gained fame as a child star in Broadway’s “The Lion King,” according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jordan Jackson-Small has been charged with the murder of 35-year-old Smith, as reported by NJ Advance Media. Additionally, he faces charges related to weapon possession and child endangerment, although the prosecutor’s office has not disclosed specifics concerning the latter charge.
Officers from the Edison Police Department discovered Smith with stab wounds at a residence on Grove Avenue on Sunday. Despite being transported to a nearby hospital, she succumbed to her injuries later that day, according to police reports.
Jackson-Small was apprehended shortly after the incident without resistance and is currently detained at the Middlesex County jail awaiting his court appearances.
Prosecutors have indicated that Jackson-Small and Smith were acquainted, emphasizing that the incident was not a random act of violence. A GoFundMe page organized by Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, confirmed that the two were in a relationship.
“Imani had a bright future. She was a vibrant, loving, and exceptionally talented individual,” the page states. “A true triple-threat performer, she is best remembered for her role as Young Nala in Disney’s Lion King on Broadway — an experience that showcased the joy, creativity, and light she brought into the world.”
Smith 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.”
