Former ‘The Lion King’ star Imani Dia Smith (26) w ho played Young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King, was stabbed to death on 21 December in New Jersey, in the United States.
Smith, who was found stabbed by authorities responding to a 911 call, was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. She is survived by her 3-year-old son, parents Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, and her two siblings.
Following her death, Smith’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with burial costs and other expenses, including therapy for her son, siblings, and parents.
The campaign has raised more than $69,000 (about R1.15 million) of its $75,000 (about R1.2 million) target.
Smith is survived by her three-year-old son, her parents, two younger siblings, and extended family members.
According to her family statement, Smith was killed by her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small. He has since been arrested and charged with murder.
New Jersey police said the killing was not a random act of violence.
“Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, thus it was not a random act of violence,” police said in a statement.
“Jackson-Small was arrested without incident 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,” the statement said.
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