Chicago – December 28, 2025
Imani Smith, a former Broadway child actress known for portraying young Nala in Disney’s “The Lion King,” was killed in a stabbing at her home on December 21, 2025. The 26-year-old was discovered with multiple stab wounds after police responded to a 911 call around 9:15 a.m. at a Grove Avenue residence.
Smith was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick but succumbed to her injuries. Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small of Edison, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses. Authorities confirmed the pair knew each other prior to the incident, ruling it non-random.
A GoFundMe by Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, described her as spirited and gifted, noting she left behind a 3-year-old son. Smith performed as young Nala from 2011 to 2012, per Playbill records. The investigation continues as the community mourns the rising star’s tragic loss.
