On Saturday evening, November 2, a performance at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), a cultural center in downtown Dallas, Texas, turned violent when a 26-year-old singer was shot while interacting with her fans. This led to the arrest of another woman, who reportedly was a participant in the center’s programs years ago.

Jada Arnell Thomas, the singer, was on stage signing autographs after her show at TBAAL when she was shot in the chest just before 6 p.m., as informed by the Dallas police.

The police arrested Micah Williams, also a 26-year-old woman, at a nearby hotel following the incident. Williams, now facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, is held in Dallas County Jail with a bond set at $200,000.

The shooting happened during a two-week performance series that featured Thomas and two other female artists. Witnesses stated that Williams was present during Thomas’ performance, and she approached the stage during the autograph session.

Curtis King, the founder of TBAAL, chased the suspect after 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 revealed to the local media.

Authorities found Williams in the lobby of the Thompson Hotel, where they retrieved a handgun from her purse. During the interrogation, Williams confessed to the shooting, claiming an earlier conflict with Thomas, which is yet to be confirmed by the police.

According to the witnesses who interacted with investigators, Williams seemed “really robotic and off” during the incident.

King confirmed that Williams had been a part of the academy’s summer program roughly ten years ago. The center, known for promoting African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and culture, has decided to reinforce its security measures following the incident.

Thomas is currently hospitalized in stable condition after the shooting. The incident took place in front of approximately 200 spectators who were present for the performance. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation by the police.