Opinion
Brianna Kupfer stabbing suspect held in Los Angeles jail on $2M bail, records show
The person accused of stabbing 24-year-old UCLA grad pupil Brianna Kupfer for no obvious cause is being held in a Los Angeles jail cell on $2 million bail, in line with on-line data.
Police in close by Pasadena arrested Shawn Laval Smith, 31, earlier Wednesday after a pedestrian noticed him hanging out on a park bench close to Truthful Oaks and Colorado Boulevard and referred to as 911 simply earlier than midday PT.
The data present he was booked into jail in Los Angeles at 3:55 p.m.
Aerial photos obtained by FOX 11 Los Angeles present police placing him into the again of a police SUV forward of his anticipated switch to LAPD custody.
(FOX 11)
UCLA STUDENT BRIANNA KUPFER’S ALLEGED KILLER ARRESTED IN PASADENA
Smith, who has a rap sheet spanning two coasts, initially gave a fictitious identify, the supply stated. The LAPD despatched its fugitive unit with a fingerprint reader to Pasadena and confirmed Smith’s identification with the gadget.
He’s accused of strolling into Croft Home, a luxurious furnishings retailer on North La Brea Avenue, on Thursday afternoon. Kupfer despatched a textual content message to one in all her associates saying she felt uncomfortable as a result of stranger within the retailer – the place she was working alone.
Round 20 minutes later, a buyer got here in and located her stabbed to loss of life.
“It’s tragic and heartbreaking that Brianna Kupfer was murdered whereas she labored,” Los Angeles District Lawyer George Gascon stated in a press release Wednesday. “It’s a large loss for her household and associates, the neighborhood and Los Angeles County. We’re working with LAPD and can assessment the case as quickly as it’s introduced to us.”
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Smith’s aunt informed Fox Information Digital that Smith suffered from unspecified psychological well being points.
“He was a very good boy,” stated Velma Washington, who recognized herself as his aunt and confirmed that the 31-year-old homicide suspect had grown up “right here and there” in South Carolina.
She stated he had a historical past of psychological sickness however that she didn’t know a lot about it.
“I’ve to name my sister and let her know what’s occurring,” Washington informed Fox Information Digital Wednesday, hanging up with out elaborating.
County data present Smith’s $2 million bail in an LA jail.
(Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division)
Courtroom data present that Smith has an intensive prison report in each North and South Carolina in addition to California, the place he’s now accused of stabbing the 24-year-old inside design pupil in what police are calling a random assault.
Authorities in Los Angeles stated they believed he’s now a homeless transient.
Courtroom data point out that Smith had as soon as lived a extra secure life on the East Coast, proudly owning a automotive, holding a building job and graduating from school.
However the data additionally present psychological well being issues and a historical past of violence starting from an alleged assault with a lethal weapon to taking pictures a flare gun at a automotive with a toddler inside.
The flare gun case stalled for 2 years on account of coronavirus backlogs, courtroom data present. Smith has been out on a fraction of the $50,000 bond – however prosecutors there moved to have it revoked Wednesday shortly earlier than his arrest on a homicide cost in Pasadena.
