Man sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder of UCLA student Brianna Kupfer

Judge decides on insanity plea during final hearing

Shawn Laval Smith was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2022 murder of 24-year-old UCLA graduate student Brianna Kupfer, who was killed while working at a Hancock Park furniture store, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced .

“Our prosecutors fought hard to obtain justice for Brianna, her family and the community rocked by Smith’s brutal and senseless violence,” Gascón said. “Brianna was a bright and talented architectural design student who was known for her kindness and love of learning. Mr. Smith stole her future and dreams. We are grateful to the court for holding him accountable.”

On September 10, a jury convicted Smith of one count of murder and found him guilty of the special circumstance charge of lying in wait. The jury also concluded that Smith used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the attack. After the conviction, the case moved into a phase where the jury was not concerned with reason.

Today, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo ruled that Smith was sane at the time of the murder and rejected his plea of ​​not guilty by reason of insanity. Smith received a life sentence without parole and an additional year for use of a deadly weapon.

The crime occurred on January 13, 2022, when Smith entered the furniture store on North La Brea Avenue where Kupfer worked alone. After posing as a customer, Smith fatally stabbed her and fled the scene.

A restitution hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. The case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Major Crimes Unit and investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.