On January 13, 2022, a tragic case in Los Angeles brought national attention after a young woman was attacked while working alone inside a retail store.
Brianna Kupfer, a 24-year-old UCLA graduate student, was working at Croft House, a furniture store located on North La Brea Avenue in Hancock Park.
At approximately 1:36 p.m., she sent a text message to a friend expressing concern about a man inside the store, describing him as giving her a “bad vibe.” The message was not seen immediately.
Shortly afterward, authorities say Shawn Laval Smith, 34, carried out the attack and left the store through a back exit.
Kupfer sustained 46 sharp force injuries, including both stab wounds and incisions affecting multiple areas of her body. Investigators later reported that the weapon used had been significantly damaged during the incident. DNA evidence linked Smith to the scene, and an audio recording device was also recovered, which prosecutors stated had been brought by the suspect.
Approximately 20 minutes later, a customer entered the store and discovered Kupfer.
Surveillance footage captured Smith at a nearby business shortly after the incident. At the time, he had an active warrant and a prior criminal history.
Six days later, he was located in Pasadena after a passerby recognized him and contacted authorities.
During trial proceedings, prosecutors stated that Smith had been visiting multiple businesses, posing as a customer while targeting individuals working alone.
On September 10, 2024, a jury found him guilty of first-degree m*rder with a special circumstance of lying in wait. On October 2, 2024, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case has since raised ongoing concerns about workplace safety and the risks faced by individuals working alone.
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