A Texas singer was sat down at an autograph signing table following her performance at a Dallas performing arts school. Surrounded by tons of people, an audience member walked up to the table but not with a picture or trinket to sign. The individual came with a handgun.
Jada Thomas, 26, was giving autographs to attendees at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters following her performance around 5:50 p.m. on November 2. Officers with the Dallas Police Department said 26-year-old Micah Williams walked up to the signing table and shot Thomas in the chest. Ahead of the shooting, witnesses said Williams appeared “robotic” and “off,” per WFAA.
Thomas was rushed to the hospital. Williams fled the scene to a nearby hotel, per police. However, authorities said she was captured after officers noticed her sit on her purse which held the handgun she allegedly used.
Police said Williams admitted to the shooting and claimed her motive stemmed from Thomas harassing her throughout all of 2023. Dallas authorities say she is in stable condition, recovering from her injuries.
Thomas was described to have been strong, resilient and a fighter by school director Curtis King – who said in a statement he plans to strengthen security checkpoints around the school.
“I’m not saying we should not be cognizant of hatred and people like that. But we cannot continue to walk in fear because that’s not the kind of person Jada Thomas is. She’s not a person who’s gonna lie and live in fear. She said today, ‘Is this gonna affect my singing?’ No, it’s not. She will still sing, and she will soar,” said King to WFAA.
William was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She’s being held in Dallas County Jail with a $200,000 bond, according to jail records.
