A California homeless man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal stabbing death of a UCLA graduate student inside a boutique furniture shop. Shawn Laval Smith, 34, was found guilty of the murder of 24-year-old architectural graduate student Brianna Kupfer on January 13, 2022.
The sentencing came after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo reviewed reports from doctors and determined that Smith was sane at the time of the murder. Kupfer was working alone at Croft House in Los Angeles' Hancock Park neighborhood when Smith, a homeless man with a lengthy criminal history, entered the store and stabbed her 26 times in an unprovoked attack.
Kupfer sustained multiple stab wounds, including 11 to the chest, two in the abdomen, one to the pelvis, and others on her arms and legs. Security cameras captured Smith at the scene, and his DNA was found on the murder weapon.
Smith was apprehended six days after the murder. Prosecutors argued during the trial that Smith had been 'hunting for a woman alone' that day, having visited multiple stores before targeting Kupfer. Moments before her death, Kupfer had texted a friend expressing discomfort about someone in the store. Tragically, she was killed shortly after sending the message.
Kupfer's family described her as a bright, driven, and kind individual who was dedicated to self-improvement and community service. They mourned her loss and emphasized her positive impact on Los Angeles. The family's statement highlighted Kupfer's intelligence, humor, and compassion, underscoring the tragedy of her senseless death.
