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 on Saturday.

The suspect, Micah Williams, also 26, was arrested in a nearby hotel lobby shortly after the incident. Police recovered a handgun at the scene. Williams, who previously performed at TBAAL in a summer program about a decade ago, is now facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with bond set at $200,000.

The shooting occurred during a packed autograph session following Thomas's performance. TBAAL founder Curtis King and staff helped track the shooter while alerting authorities. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and it's unknown if the victim and suspect had any prior connection.

Thomas remains hospitalized but is reportedly making progress. In response to the incident, TBAAL announced plans to enhance security measures, including reducing entry points and implementing stricter screening processes.

Before the shooting, Thomas had thanked King for providing "a safe space" for young artists to perform. King remains optimistic about Thomas's recovery, stating, "She will sing and soar and she'll be even better when she gets back on her feet."

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