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A former Broadway performer, Imani Smith, 25, died December 21 after being found with serious injuries at her home, and her partner is now facing murder charges. This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the theater community and beyond.
A Rising Star Silenced
The young actress, remembered for her vibrant spirit, leaves behind three children and a legacy on the stage.
- Imani Smith, who played young Nala in The Lion king on Broadway, was fatally injured in her Edison, New Jersey home.
- Her partner,Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
- A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Smith’s family and cover expenses related to the tragedy.
- Police responded to a stabbing at the residence around 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 21.
Smith captivated audiences as young Nala in the beloved musical The Lion King between 2011 and 2012.Police in Edison were called to a home in the neighborhood around 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 21, responding to reports of a stabbing. First responders discovered Smith with serious injuries. She was transported to robert Wood Johnson Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a few hours later, according to reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
family and Community Grieve
Smith lived in the Edison home with her three children and her partner, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35. Jackson-Small was arrested and has been indicted by local authorities. 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, authorities stated. He is currently incarcerated in a Middlesex County prison, awaiting the results of his pre-trial detention hearing.
Imani Smith’s aunt shared that Smith’s parents, Monique Rance-helper and Rawni Helper, “are now facing the unimaginable, grieving the loss of their daughter while raising their young son and supporting their two other children during this traumatic time.” her aunt added, “imani
