The murder of Brianna Kupfer occurred on January 13, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Kupfer, a 24-year-old student at University of California, Los Angeles, was murdered by Shawn Laval Smith.[1] 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. A few minutes later, a customer found Kupfer's stabbed body, covered in blood. Kupfer was pronounced dead that day.[2][3][4]
The high-profile search for the murder suspect became one of the biggest in the Southern California region,[5] with a $250,000 reward offered.[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] In October 2024, Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[10]
Use a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime
Criminal penalty
Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
Details
Victims
Brianna Kupfer
Shawn Laval Smith was born on May 13, 1990,[15] 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.[4] 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.[16][17] Several of his crimes were committed in South Carolina and California.
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.[14][19]
Twenty minutes after the attack, a customer found Kupfer's stabbed body, covered in blood.[2] The Los Angeles Police Department described the murder as a "random attack of violence".[20] The knife was recovered at the scene, the blade was bent. Smith's DNA was found on the knife.[1] In a surveillance video, Smith was seen walking away from the Croft House store through the back door.[21] Another surveillance video recorded Smith shopping at a nearby 7-Eleven store 30 minutes after Kupfer's killing.[21]
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.[22] 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.[22][23] Signs were made with Smith's photo so that anyone who saw him could call 911.[22]
On January 19, in Pasadena, California, Smith was found and arrested in connection with the murder of Brianna Kupfer.[24] 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.[4]
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.[25] Smith was represented by Defense Attorney Robert Haberer.[25]
On August 29, 2024, the murder trial started in the Los Angeles County Superior Court with Judge Mildred Escobedo.[26] Los Angeles County Deputy Attorney Habib Balian was in charge of the case.[27] Deputy Attorney Balian said in opening statements that Smith posed as a client to gain Kupfer's trust and then stabbed her to death.[28] Prosecutor presented audio of Smith saying he "hated women".[28] The Defense Attorney Haberer opted not to make an opening statement.[29]
On September 10, 2024, the jury found Shawn Smith guilty of both charges in relation to the murder of Brianna Kupfer.[9][27] In October 2024, Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[10]
Reactions
A memorial for Brianna Kupfer was held in January 2022 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 case was also highly publicized on social media.[30]
At Croft House, the place where Kupfer worked and was murdered, a memorial was held for her with flowers, cards, and pictures.[31] 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.[32][33]
