A Broadway actress who performed the function of Younger Nala in “The Lion King” a decade in the past has been murdered, based on the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Workplace.
Imani Smith, 26, was found with a number of stab wounds inside her Edison, New Jersey house on Dec. 21.
She was rushed to Robert Wooden Johnson College Hospital the place she was pronounced useless.
Smith was one in every of two actresses taking part in the function of Younger Nala on Broadway between 2011 and 2012. Those that labored along with her mentioned she had a fantastic voice and introduced super power to the character.
On-line tributes to Smith have been showing, together with one on Playbill.com.
Jordan Jackson-Small, 35, of Edison, is going through a number of expenses, together with first diploma homicide and illegal possession of a weapon. Edison Police mentioned the 2 knew one another and “it was not a random act of violence.” His preliminary courtroom look was postponed, Smith’s relations mentioned.
Smith’s mother and father inform CBS Information New York Jackson-Small is the daddy of their daughter’s 3-year-old little one.
“No person deserves to lose their life in that approach, irrespective of who you’re. Particularly somebody who’s so younger, has a lot promise and has an exquisite little boy. She known as, she calls him ‘Bub.’ Wonderful mother and father. And he or she is sadly the second Younger Nala we have misplaced, each below very totally different circumstances,” Jessica Arnold, a toddler guardian at “The Lion King,” mentioned.
Smith’s mom additionally labored on “The Lion King” within the hair and wig division, in addition to on different Broadway and tv reveals.
