A woman who starred in Broadway\u2019s \u201cThe Lion King\u201d as a child was killed in a stabbing over the weekend, New Jersey officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edison police officers were called to a home on Sunday morning over reports of a stabbing and discovered 26-year-old Imani Dia Smith, the Middlesex County Prosecutor\u2019s Office said in a statement on Tuesday. Smith was taken to a hospital to treat her stab wounds, where officials said she was pronounced dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A GoFundMe started by Smith\u2019s aunt to raise funds for Smith\u2019s family said she was \u201ckilled by her boyfriend.\u201d She is survived by her 3-year-old son, according to the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImani had her whole life ahead of her,\u201d her aunt wrote. \u201cShe was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith starred as young Nala in \u201cThe Lion King\u201d on Broadway for a year between 2011 and 2012, according to Playbill. Her mother is a hair stylist who has worked on theater, Broadway and television productions including \u201cThe Lion King\u201d show and the film adaption of \u201cIn the Heights,\u201d the publication said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An investigation into the stabbing led to the arrest of Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35. Officials said that he knew Smith, but they did not provide details on the nature of their relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has been 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, according to the prosecutor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jackson-Small is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center as he awaits a court hearing, according to inmate records. Court records did not list an attorney for Jackson-Small as of Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n