Imani Dia Smith, a former child star known for her role as young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King, was tragically killed just days before Christmas.

On the morning of December 21, Smith was found in a home in Edison, New Jersey, after authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing incident, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Smith charmed audiences during her time on Broadway from 2011 to 2012.

The 26-year-old, who leaves behind a 3-year-old son, was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

In connection with the fatal stabbing, authorities arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small without incident. While details about their relationship have not been disclosed, officials stated that Smith and Jackson-Small were acquainted prior to the incident, indicating this was not a random act of violence.

Jackson-Small faces several serious charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree endangerment of a child’s welfare, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, as reported by prosecutors.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Smith’s aunt Kira Helper set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help Smith’s son, parents Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, and siblings.

“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” Kira wrote. “She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.” 

Kira described her niece as a “true triple-threat performer” who thrived on stage while playing Young Nala on Broadway, an experience she said “reflected the joy, creativity and light she put into the world.” 

The fundraiser—which, at publishing time, has raised more than $65,000—will be used to pay for funeral costs, crime scene clean-up, trauma therapy for Smith’s loved ones and legal costs. 

Kira explained, “In addition to their grief, 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.”

Jackson-Small is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center as he awaits a pre-trial detention hearing. It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney.