On the evening of Saturday, November 2, an act of violence shattered a performance at a Dallas, Texas downtown culture center. A 26-year-old singer was injured during a meet-and-greet with fans, leading to the detention of a former participant in the center’s programs.
The singer, Jada Arnell Thomas, was autographing items for fans on the stage of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) when she was shot in the chest around 6 p.m., as reported by Dallas police.
Micah Williams, another 26-year-old woman, was arrested at a nearby hotel following the incident. Williams is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently held at Dallas County Jail with bond set at $200,000.
Thomas was part of a two-week performance series at TBAAL featuring herself and two other female artists. Witnesses claim that Williams was in the audience for Thomas’ performance and approached her during the autograph signing.
The founder of TBAAL, Curtis King, chased after the suspect following the shooting. “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 shared with local news outlets.
Authorities apprehended Williams in the lobby of the Thompson Hotel, where a handgun was found in her purse. Williams confessed to the shooting during questioning and suggested a previous dispute between her and Thomas, a claim yet to be confirmed by the police.
Witnesses who provided statements to investigators described Williams as “really robotic and off” during the entire episode.
According to King, Williams had participated in the academy’s summer program around ten years ago. The venue, a promoter of African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and culture, has announced plans to strengthen security measures following the incident.
Thomas remains in stable condition in the hospital. The incident took place before an audience of about 200 attendees gathered for the performance. The police are still investigating the motive behind the attack.
