Shawn Laval Smith, a 34-year-old homeless man with a history of criminal activity, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of UCLA student Briana Kupfer. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder last month for the attack on Kupfer, 24, which took place at the furniture store where she was employed.
Smith was reportedly “hunting” for a victim when he targeted Kupfer on January 13, 2022. The chilling incident was captured on a digital recorder, which Smith had used to record his actions. The recording revealed the horrifying moments leading up to Kupfer’s death, including Smith ordering the terrified graduate student to lie on the floor.
The recording also captured Smith’s chilling words, “It’s over, it’s over,” followed by the sound of Kupfer’s screams. Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian stated that Kupfer was caught off guard by the attack, describing Smith as having been “lying in wait for his perfect target.”
Following the attack, Smith fled the scene, leaving behind the bloodied filet knife used in the assault and the digital recorder. An earlier recording on the device revealed Smith expressing his hatred for women and his intent to “destroy everything.”
Smith pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, a plea that was rejected by the judge. In addition to his murder conviction, Smith was also found guilty of a special circumstance allegation of murder while lying in wait and using a knife in the commission of a crime.
During the sentencing hearing, Kupfer’s family and friends shared their grief and anger. Todd Kupfer, Briana’s father, described Smith as “beyond evil,” while her mother, Lori, remembered her daughter as a “beautiful person inside and out.” Kupfer’s siblings also spoke, expressing their ongoing heartbreak over the loss of their sister, who they said was “taken from us far too soon.”