A 26-year-old Dallas singer, Jada Arnell Thomas, was shot while signing autographs after her performance at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) in downtown Dallas.

The incident occurred on Saturday when a woman in the crowd shot Thomas at close range. The suspect, identified as Micah Williams, 26, attempted to flee but was arrested in a nearby hotel lobby. Police recovered a handgun, and Williams was booked at Dallas County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with bond set at $200,000.

Curtis King, TBAAL's founder and director, revealed that Williams had previously performed at TBAAL in a summer program approximately ten years ago. However, any potential connection between the shooter and the victim remains unclear.

Thomas remains hospitalized but is reportedly making progress. In response to the incident, TBAAL announced plans to enhance their security measures, including strengthened screening processes and reducing entry points to prevent weapons from entering the venue.

"My girl, she's strong. She's resilient. She's a fighter," said King. "She will sing and soar and she'll be even better when she gets back on her feet."

The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing.

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