Who was Imani Dia Smith?

Imani Dia Smith was an actress known for playing Young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King as a child.

What happened to Imani Smith in Edison, NJ?

Imani Smith was found with multiple stab wounds at her Edison, NJ residence and later died from her injuries.

Who is charged in Imani Smith's death?

Jordan D. Jackson-Small, Imani Smith's boyfriend, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Home / Crime and Justice / Broadway's Young Nala Dies at 25

Broadway's Young Nala Dies at 25

25 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Young Nala actress Imani Smith tragically passed away at age 25.
Authorities responded to a stabbing at her New Jersey residence.
Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been arrested and charged.

Imani Dia Smith, celebrated for her childhood role as Young Nala in Broadway's The Lion King, has tragically passed away at the age of 25. Emergency services were dispatched to her Edison, New Jersey residence on the morning of December 21 following a reported stabbing.

Upon arrival, Smith was discovered with severe stab wounds and was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Prosecutors confirmed her death on December 23. Authorities swiftly arrested her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, who now faces charges including first-degree murder.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office indicated that preliminary findings suggest the violence was not random. Jackson-Small is currently held pending a pre-trial detention hearing. Smith's family has launched a GoFundMe to support her parents and young son during this devastating time.