By LILY TINOCO and SARAH SHMERLING
When Brianna Kupfer’s story is told, the family wants the focus to be on her legacy—not the man who was found guilty of her murder by a jury on September 10.
Kupfer grew up in Pacific Palisades, attended St. Matthew’s Parish School then Brentwood School. She went on to study at University of Miami, then, with an eye for aesthetics, was studying for a master’s degree in architectural design at UCLA. She was at work at Hancock Park furniture store Croft House when she was killed on January 13, 2022, at the age of 24.
Following her death, the Kupfer family launched the Brianna Kupfer Foundation, which “intends to improve conditions for mankind by supporting sustainability, resiliency, social and environmental betterment, and the protection and empowerment of women.” Her sister Mikaela is the foundation’s chair, mother Lori is the secretary, father Todd is the treasurer, and brothers Brandon and Tucker are directors. All of the funds raised go to three to four different organizations each year that support causes close to Brianna and the Kupfer family.
“Brianna was an incredibly creative, loving person,” Tucker previously said to the Post. “She made everyone she talked to smile because she was so full of love and empathy.”
In a story published on the foundation’s website, Mikaela described Brianna as “one of the most courageous, kind and loving people,” who “made an impact on everyone she interacted with; they were met with beauty and grace that was unmatched.”
“She loved deeply and strongly, and put others before her,” Mikaela wrote. “Brianna was an angel on and off this earth. It’s hard to find people like Brianna, who truly represent the good in this world.”
Shawn Laval Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of Brianna by a jury on Tuesday, September 10. They deliberated for just over an hour before finding him guilty of one count of murder and a special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which makes it possible for Smith to receive a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. The jury also “found that the defendant used a deadly and dangerous” weapon.
“It’s hard to live in a world where evil wins over good, but this foundation is meant to serve as a representation of the world Brianna deserved and wanted,” Mikaela wrote. “We will be championing causes dear to Brianna, such as environmental and social justice issues, as well as honoring victims like Brianna through the protection of women and social betterment.”
Smith was arrested in January 2022 after Pasadena police received a tip from a caller of a possible sighting, Lieutenant William Grisafe of the Pasadena Police Department said to City News Service previously. He was taken into custody on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Smith was arrested without incident and transferred to LAPD’s custody, according to Grisafe, and was later charged.
“Brianna Kupfer was a promising young woman whose life was tragically taken far too soon,” LA County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “I thank the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and dedication in finding the defendant guilty. A bright and talented 24-year-old UCLA student, Brianna was dedicated to her studies in architectural design, with her whole future ahead of her. Our hearts are with Brianna’s family, who have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout this harrowing ordeal.”
The trial will now move into a non-jury sanity phase, set to begin on October 2. A status conference was scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Smith is currently being held without bail.
Following the verdict, Councilmember Traci Park introduced a motion on Wednesday, September 11, regarding the implementation of SB 553, a new California law that mandates workplace violence prevention programs and training.
“With employees serving on the front lines of homelessness, mental health, addiction and crime,” Park said in a statement, “it is imperative we safeguard workers and prevent future tragedies,”
For more information about the foundation, visit briannafoundation.org.
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