Murder of Brianna Kupfer

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Murder of Brianna Kupfer
Brianna Kupfer Murder Victim in 2022.jpg
Publicity photo of Brianna Kupfer
Location326 North La Brea Avenue, Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S
Coordinates 34°04′38″N118°20′37″W / 34.0772°N 118.3437°W / 34.0772; -118.3437
DateJanuary 13, 2022
1:36—1:50 p.m. (GMT-7)
Attack type
 Crime of opportunity, murder by stabbing
WeaponKnife
VictimBrianna Kupfer
PerpetratorShawn Laval Smith
MotiveNone
Verdict Guilty of both charges
Charges

The murder of Brianna Kupfer occurred on January 13, 2022, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. [1] Kupfer, a 24-year-old student at the University of California, Los Angeles, was murdered by Shawn Laval Smith. [2] Smith, a 31-year-old man with an extensive criminal record, stabbed Kupfer to death in the Croft House store where she was working in the Hancock Park neighborhood. [3] A few minutes later, a customer found Kupfer's stabbed body, covered in blood. Kupfer was pronounced dead that day. [4]

Contents

The search for the murder suspect became one of the biggest in the Southern California region, [5] with a $250,000 reward offered, drawing public attention and media coverage. [6] On January 19, Smith was found and arrested in Pasadena, California, [7] and charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of the murder. The prosecutor in charge of the case said that Kupfer's murder was motivated by Smith's hatred of women. [8]

In September 2024, a jury of the Los Angeles County found Smith guilty of both charges. [9] Smith faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Brianna Kupfer

Brianna Nicole Kupfer was born on April 9, 1997, [lower-alpha 1] she was one of four children born to Todd and Lori Kupfer. [11] Kupfer born and raised in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. [12] Kupfer attended Brentwood High School, where she was a member of various sports teams, captain of the cheerleading team, and participated in other extracurricular activities. [12] [13] In 2019, Kupfer graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in public relations. [13] She enrolled in a graduate program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to study architectural design. [2] Kupfer worked as a consultant at Croft House, a luxury furniture store in the neighborhood of Hancock Park.

Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith
Shawn Laval Smith Mugshot.jpg
Mugshot of Shawn Smith
Born
Shawn Laval Smith

(1990-05-13) May 13, 1990 (age 34)
Conviction(s) First-degree murder with special circumstances, use a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime
Details
VictimsBrianna Kupfer

Shawn Laval Smith was born on May 13, 1990, [14] making him a 31-year-old man at the time of Kupfer's murder. Smith has an extensive criminal record and he was a homeless man. [3] At the time of the crime, Smith was out on bond awaiting trial in South Carolina with the charges of firing a flare gun at a vehicle with a child inside. [15] [16] Several of his crimes were committed in South Carolina and California.

Crimes committed by Smith include: [3] [17]

Murder

Location map Los Angeles.png
Red pog.svg
Hancock Park
class=notpageimage|
Location of Hancock Park, Los Angeles

On the afternoon of January 13, 2022, Kupfer was working alone at Croft House. At some point, a man, identified as Shawn Smith, entered the store. Around 1:36 p.m., Kupfer texted a friend saying she was getting "bad vibes" from the man who entered the store. A few minutes later, Smith attacked Kupfer with a knife. Kupfer suffered 46 stab wounds, the autopsy revealed that 26 were stab wounds and 20 were incisions. [13] [18]

Twenty minutes after the attack, a customer found Kupfer's stabbed body, covered in blood. [4] The Los Angeles Police Department described the murder as a "random attack of violence". [19] The knife was recovered at the scene, the blade was bent. Smith's DNA was found on the knife. [2] In a surveillance video, Smith was seen walking away from the Croft House store through the back door. [20] Another surveillance video recorded Smith shopping at a nearby 7-Eleven store 30 minutes after Kupfer's killing. [20]

Criminal proceedings

Search and arrest

After Smith was identified, an extensive search began throughout the Southern California region. [5] Surveillance videos showing Smith were widely shared with the news media and the public. [21] The Los Angeles City Council offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Smith's arrest. Kupfer's relatives and other private groups increased the reward to $250,000. [21] [22] Signs were made with Smith's photo so that anyone who saw him could call 911. [21]

On January 19, in Pasadena, California, Smith was found and arrested in connection with the murder of Brianna Kupfer. [23] Smith was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of the murder of Kupfer. [8] Smith's bail was set at $2,000.000. [3]

Trial

Smith had wanted to represent himself at his murder trial, but Judge Escobedo revoked Smith's right to act as his own attorney at a hearing in June 2023 for misconduct. [24] Smith was represented by Defense Attorney Robert Haberer. [24]

On August 29, 2024, the murder trial started in the Los Angeles County Superior Court with Judge Mildred Escobedo. [25] Los Angeles County Deputy Attorney Habib Balian was in charge of the case. [26] Deputy Attorney Balian said in opening statements that Smith posed as a client to gain Kupfer's trust and then stabbed her to death. [27] Prosecutor presented audio of Smith saying he "hated women". [27] The Defense Attorney Haberer opted not to make an opening statement. [28]

On September 10, 2024, the jury found Shawn Smith guilty of both charges in relation to the murder of Brianna Kupfer. [9] [26] Smith will have a sentencing hearing in October 2024, where he faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. [2]

Reactions

A memorial for Brianna Kupfer was held in January 2020 at Croft House. Memorial for Brianna Kupfer in Croft House.jpg
A memorial for Brianna Kupfer was held in January 2020 at Croft House.

The murder of Brianna Kupfer and the search for her killer were widely reported in the news media and attracted national public attention. [6] The murder was also highly publicized and distributed on social media. [29]

At Croft House, the place where Kupfer worked and was murdered, a memorial was held for her with flowers, cards, and pictures. [30] Family members of Kupfer, founded the "Brianna Kupfer Foundation", a non-profit organization which aims to fight against violence against women and defend victims of violence. [31] [32]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This reference states that Brianna Kupfer would have turned 25 years old on April 9, 2022, meaning she was born on April 9, 1997. [10]

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References

  1. ↑ Chan, Stella (January 21, 2022). "Suspect in killing of woman at Los Angeles store charged with murder". CNN .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Neumann, Sean (September 11, 2024). "UCLA Grad Student Texted a Friend She Was Uncomfortable with Man in Store. Then He Stabbed Her 46 Times". People .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Winton, Richard; Solis, Nathan (January 21, 2022). "Man with history of mental illness, criminal record charged in Brianna Kupfer's murder". Los Angeles Times .
  4. 1 2 Hayes, Christal (January 19, 2022). "Man arrested in random knife slaying of UCLA student working at furniture store, LAPD says". USA Today .
  5. 1 2 Solis, Nathan (January 19, 2022). "Suspect in killing of Brianna Kupfer arrested in Pasadena". Los Angeles Times .
  6. 1 2 Mossburg, Cheri (January 27, 2022). "Los Angeles officials plead for help in solving the killing of teen girl dumped on the freeway". CNN .
  7. ↑ Haskell, Josh; Suter, Leanne (January 20, 2022). "Man accused of fatally stabbing 24-year-old UCLA grad student arrested in Pasadena, police say". ABC7 Los Angeles.
  8. 1 2 Wenzke, Marissa (September 10, 2024). "Jury convicts murderer of Brianna Kupfer years after killing at Hancock Park furniture store". CBS News .
  9. 1 2 "Brianna Kupfer murder trial: Homeless man convicted of killing UCLA student at furniture store". Fox 11 Los Angeles. September 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rice, Travis (April 9, 2022). "Family and friends remember Brianna Kupfer, UCLA grad student killed in furniture store attack". Fox 11 Los Angeles.
  11. ↑ "Brianna Kupfer's parents speak out ahead of trial of her alleged murderer". Fox 11 Los Angeles. August 28, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Montemayor, Constanza; Wakura, Rio (February 26, 2022). "Loved ones remember Brianna Kupfer for compassionate nature, creative abilities". Daily Bruin.
  13. 1 2 3 Winton, Richard; Solis, Nathan (August 2, 2022). "UCLA student Brianna Kupfer stabbed 26 times in deadly Hancock Park attack, autopsy shows". Los Angeles Times .
  14. ↑ "September 10, 2024: Shawn Laval Smith Found Guilty of Murdering a Furniture Store Employee in Hancock Park". Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. September 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ Sheets, Megan (January 19, 2022). "Who is Shawn Laval Smith? Homeless convict wanted for stabbing UCLA grad student Brianna Kupfer to death". The Independent .
  16. ↑ Kandel, Jason (September 11, 2024). "Killer 'hunting for a woman alone' stabbed UCLA grad student 46 times as she worked at furniture store and begged for her life". Law & Crime .
  17. ↑ Sorace, Stephen (January 19, 2022). "Shawn Laval Smith: Suspected killer of Brianna Kupfer has a long history of arrests". Fox 11 Los Angeles.
  18. ↑ Stringini, Mary (January 18, 2022). "Brianna Kupfer murder: UCLA student noticed 'bad vibe' from man prior to her death, text messages show". Fox 11 Los Angeles.
  19. ↑ Adams, Abigail (January 15, 2022). "Woman, 24, Stabbed to Death While Working at Luxury L.A. Furniture Store in Random Daytime Attack". People .
  20. 1 2 "Shawn Smith Charged In Murder Of Brianna Kupfer Inside Hancock Park Furniture Store". CBS News . January 21, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "Suspect ID'd As Shawn Laval Smith In Murder Of Brianna Kupfer, Hancock Park Furniture Store Employee Found Stabbed". CBS News . January 19, 2022.
  22. ↑ Hurley, Bevan (January 18, 2022). "Brianna Kupfer: LAPD release new images of suspected killer as reward increases to over $250,000". The Independent .
  23. ↑ Lenthang, Marlene; Stelloh, Tim (January 19, 2022). "Suspect in custody in stabbing death of student at L.A. furniture store". NBC News .
  24. 1 2 Jeong, Helen (August 29, 2024). "Trial begins in 2022 killing of UCLA student inside Hancock Park furniture store". NBC Los Angeles.
  25. ↑ "Man charged in fatal stabbing of woman at Hancock Park store can't act as own attorney, judge rules". ABC7 Los Angeles. June 9, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Winton, Richard (September 11, 2024). "Man who fatally stabbed UCLA grad student Brianna Kupfer found guilty of murder". Los Angeles Times .
  27. 1 2 DuBose, Josh (August 29, 2024). "'A kind woman begging for her life': Trial in grisly killing of UCLA student begins". KTLA.
  28. ↑ Gonzalez, Christina (August 29, 2024). "Brianna Kupfer murder trial begins: Prosecutors say alleged killer recorded attack". Fox 11 Los Angeles.
  29. ↑ Hurley, Bevan (January 18, 2022). "Brianna Kupfer: Outpouring of grief and anger on social media over killing of UCLA student". The Independent .
  30. ↑ Lobell, Kylie (January 21, 2022). "Local Jewish Women Organize Brianna Kupfer Memorial". Jewish Journal .
  31. ↑ Powell, Amy (April 10, 2022). "Brianna Kupfer remembered with foundation focusing on social issues dear to slain UCLA grad student". ABC7 Los Angeles.
  32. ↑ Rice, Travis (April 9, 2022). "Family and friends remember Brianna Kupfer, UCLA grad student killed in furniture store attack". Fox 11 Los Angeles.
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