Child star Imani Smith has died at age 26 after being allegedly murdered by her boyfriend.
Police confirmed in a press release that Smith, who starred as young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway in 2011 and 2012, died on Sunday, December 21. According to officials, they responded to a 911 call in Edison, New Jersey, and discovered Smith “with stab wounds.” She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Jordan D. Jackson-Small was subsequently arrested and 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. Jackson-Small, 35, is currently being held at Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center.
“Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, thus it was not a random act of violence,” the press release read, noting that Jackson-Small is awaiting the results of his pre-trial detention hearing.
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In a GoFundMe set up by family, Smith’s aunt Kira Helper wrote that she was allegedly “senselessly killed by her boyfriend.” The aunt confirmed that Smith had a 3-year-old son and an extended family, friends, and community who loved her so very much.”
“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” the tribute continued. “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 Lion King — an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world.”
Smith’s aunt noted that the GoFundMe was created to raise money for funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy for Smith’s son and family, legal and administrative costs and more.
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“In addition to their grief, [Smith’s parents] Monique and Rawni are trying to hold their family together — comforting their children, navigating the sudden responsibility to raise their grandson, and finding a way forward while their world has been shattered,” the post continued. “Monique works as a Broadway and TV/film hairdresser, and like so many in the freelance and artistic fields, time away from work means lost income during an already devastating period.”
The GoFundMe page previously had a target of $55,000. It has since been increased up to $80,000 and has raised more than $59,000 so far.
“We have started our fundraising goal at $50,000 because the true cost of trauma, loss, and long-term healing is impossible to know right now,” the post concluded. “Our hope is that these funds will give Imani’s parents the ability to focus on what matters most: grieving their daughter, caring for their grandson, and helping their children begin to heal — without the added fear of financial instability. Any contribution, no matter the amount, helps lift a small part of the weight our family is carrying. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page and keeping Imani, her son, and our family in your prayers means more than we can express.”
