A 26-year-old singer was shot while meeting fans after a performance at a cultural center in downtown Dallas, Texas, Saturday evening, November 2. The occurrence resulted in the detention of a young woman believed to have ties to the venue from years past.
Jada Arnell Thomas was in the process of signing autographs after her show at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) when she suffered a gunshot wound to her chest shortly before 6 p.m., Dallas police confirmed.
Micah Williams, also 26-years-old, was apprehended at a hotel nearby following the incident. Williams is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently held in the Dallas County Jail with a bond fixed at $200,000.
The shooting incident took place during a two-week series of performances featuring Thomas and two other female artists. Eyewitnesses stated that Williams was present throughout Thomas’ performance and approached during the autograph session.
Curtis King, the founder of TBAAL, chased after the suspect when the shooting occurred. “I went out the door and said, ‘Where did the lady go?’ And they pointed in the direction where she went. I saw her through the glass doors, and so I just started running after her,” King relayed to local media.
Authorities found Williams in the lobby of the Thompson Hotel and retrieved a handgun from her purse. During her interrogation, Williams acknowledged the shooting and suggested there had been prior disputes between herself and Thomas, although this claim has not been corroborated by the police.
Witnesses who collaborated with investigators characterized Williams as “really robotic and off” during the incident.
King revealed that Williams had taken part in the academy’s summer program around a decade ago. The venue, which champions African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and culture, has declared that it will be implementing heightened security measures in light of the incident.
The incident unfolded in front of roughly 200 spectators who were present for the performance. The police are continuing to probe the motivation behind the attack.