Los Angeles, CA – A homeless man convicted of brutally murdering UCLA graduate student Brianna Kupfer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The 34-year-old, Shawn Laval Smith, was found guilty of first-degree murder on September 10, 2024, for the January 2022 stabbing that left the 24-year-old dead inside the Croft House furniture store in Hancock Park, Los Angeles.
The court heard that Kupfer was working alone in the store when Smith entered, posing as a customer. In a horrifying attack, he stabbed her 46 times, an act caught on a chilling audio recording found at the scene. Despite pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo determined that Smith was sane at the time of the murder. She cited evidence, including jailhouse calls in which Smith discussed feigning insanity to avoid conviction.
During the sentencing, Kupfer’s family delivered emotional impact statements, describing her as a vibrant, compassionate woman with a bright future ahead. Her father, Todd Kupfer, called Smith “beyond evil,” while her mother, Lori, recounted the pain of never hearing her daughter’s laughter again. The judge agreed that the “brutality” of the crime warranted life without parole, rejecting any lighter sentence.
Kupfer’s murder, which shook the Los Angeles community, highlighted the risks faced by workers in isolated environments. Smith was captured six days after the crime, thanks to a tip from a Pasadena resident. The case has drawn widespread attention, with Kupfer’s family vowing to honor her legacy by advocating for safer working conditions.
