In a shocking incident that took place Saturday evening, 26-year-old singer Jada Arnell Thomas was shot in the chest on stage after her performance at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
Authorities received reports of the shooting around 6 p.m. at 600 S. Griffin St., close to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium. Upon arrival, officers found Thomas had sustained a gunshot wound to her chest. The singer was allegedly shot while signing autographs on stage, then immediately transported to a local hospital. According to Fox 4 News, Thomas is reported to be in stable condition.
Witnesses at the scene recounted seeing a woman aiming a firearm at Thomas before fleeing the theater with a group of people. Some witnesses described the alleged shooter as appearing “robotic and off” in demeanor, as detailed in an affidavit provided by the police.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Micah Williams, was apprehended shortly after the incident in a hotel lobby located a few blocks away on Akard St. She has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently being held on a $200,000 bond in the Dallas County Jail, according to jail records.
During her arrest, officers recovered a handgun from Williams’ purse, and in a police interview following the incident, Williams reportedly confessed to shooting Thomas. However, the Dallas Police Department is still currently investigating the exact motives behind the shooting, reported Fox 4.
As a result of the shooting this weekend, Monday night’s scheduled performances at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) have been canceled.
Curtis King, the founder and president of TBAAL, assured in a Facebook post on Sunday that Thomas is “going to be okay.”
“It is eerie to know that we now live in the kind of world with people who seem to be bent on doing harm to other people, many times for no apparent and sensible reason,” King added.