A Dallas singer was shot onstage Saturday night as she was signing autographs following a downtown performance.
Jada Arnell Thomas, 26, had just finished a performance at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters when the gunshots rang out, KXAS reported.
“It was a packed house, people were in line getting autographs and we heard this shot,” TBAAL’s founder and director Curtis King said. “It was unreal. It was like everything was in slow motion.”
King told the station that he and other members of the staff followed the shooter outside as they called 911. Police found the woman in the lobby of a nearby hotel and arrested her.
Micah Williams, 26, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police did not comment on a possible motive, but sources told WFAA that the suspect has mental health issues and has previously claimed that Thomas was harassing her.
King told WFAA that Thomas has been performing at his organization since she was 10 years old and will return to sing.
“She said today, ‘Is this gonna affect my singing?’ No, it’s not. She will still sing, and she will soar,” he said, adding that the organization is looking at how it can improve safety and security.
Williams is being held on a $200,000 bond.
