Imani Smith, who spent her childhood on Broadway as Young Nala in ‘The Lion King’, has died at the age of just 26.

And the circumstances surrounding her passing are harrowing.

Full story below…

Authorities in Middlesex County, New Jersey, confirmed that Smith died on December 21 following a stabbing. Police responded to a 911 call in Edison, where she was found with multiple injuries.

She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, has been arrested in connection with the case.

Prosecutors have stated that Smith and Jackson-Small were acquainted and that the incident was not random.

He now faces charges including first-degree murder, multiple weapons offences, and endangering the welfare of a child.

In the wake of her death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Smith’s family as they grieve and take on the responsibility of raising her young son. The fundraiser notes the immense loss felt by her parents and siblings during what has been described as an unimaginable period.

The former stage star’s death has cast a heavy shadow over the Broadway community, with many reflecting on a life that began under bright lights and ended far too soon.

Though Smith later stepped away from the spotlight, her role in one of theatre’s most revered and celebrated productions remained a defining chapter of her early years.

Smith is survived by her three-year-old son, her parents, two younger siblings, and extended family.

May she rest in peace.

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