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'A kind woman begging for her life': Trial in grisly killing of UCLA student begins

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'A kind woman begging for her life': Trial in grisly killing of UCLA student begins

Opening statements began Thursday in the trial of Shawn Laval Smith, the man accused in the stabbing death a 24-year-old woman while she worked alone at a Hancock Park furniture store in Jan. 2022.  

The grisly killing unfolded on Jan. 13 while Brianna Kupfer, a UCLA graduate student, was working at Croft House on North La Brea Avenue.  

At 1:36 p.m. that day, Kupfer sent a text to a friend saying there was someone inside the store who was “giving her a bad vibe,” LAPD officials previously said. 

About 14 minutes later, a customer walked in and found her dead on the floor. 

Smith, who has an extensive criminal history in L.A. County, is accused of stabbing the 24-year-old, who he did not know, 46 times. He was arrested nearly a week after the killing in Pasadena.

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Brianna Kupfer, 24, seen here in this undated photo. (viewer image)

During Thursday’s emotional opening statements, prosecutors presented body-worn camera footage from the officer who responded to the scene. The footage showed the officer entering the store and seeing Kupfer, unresponsive and covered in blood, lying on the ground.  

In the courtroom, Kupfer’s parents were visibly distraught, her father placing his head in his hands at the sight of the crime scene.  

“The defendant, pretending to be a customer, lured her into a sense of security and safety and vulnerability, even went outside, pretending to call his girlfriend,” the prosecutor told the court. “The evidence we’ll show you, they weren’t looking for a couch. It was all a lie.”  

Prosecutors say Smith, who was present in court, wearing a buttoned-down shirt, slacks and a medical face mask, killed the young woman before leaving through the back of the store.  

Shawn Laval Smith
Shawn Laval Smith, 34, accused in the killing of 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer on Jan. 13, 2022.

“Brianna Kupfer, lying on the floor in the Croft House covered in her own blood, smear marks of blood surrounding her,” the prosecutor added.  

Authorities say that audio of the murder was left behind at the scene.  

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“Her last breathing words, she’s just telling him, ‘I can help you, I can help you, I can help you,’ and he’s telling her, ‘It’s over [expletive].’” 

Jessica Rogers, a resident of Pacific Palisades where Kupfer’s family also lives, told KTLA she doesn’t know the family personally, but attended the trial to show her support for them.  

“We heard a recording of him making these statements about how he hated women,” she told KTLA’s Kimberly Cheng, unable to hold back tears. “An innocent, kind woman begging for her life. She tried to get help. She did nothing wrong.” 

Prosecutors also told the courtroom that a knife used with such force it was bent was found at the scene and tested positive for Smith’s DNA.  

If convicted as charged in this case, the 34-year-old defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Fort Irwin soldier allegedly murdered comrade

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Fort Irwin soldier allegedly murdered comrade

A soldier from Fontana has been charged with murder in the death of another soldier at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County.

Spc. George Cornejo, 26, is accused of killing Spc. Andrew P. Smith on Oct. 28, military officials said in a press release.

Smith, 27, was found injured in his residence that day and later succumbed to his wounds, officials said when announcing his death. The Rye, New York, native had been stationed at Fort Irwin for more than two years.

The manner and possible motivation for the alleged murder were not released.

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Cornejo has been in pre-trial custody since Oct. 29, and he’s expected to be transferred to the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar.

A preliminary hearing will be held to determine if Cornejo will be tried by court-martial.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

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Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.  

Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.  

L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.  

Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.  

Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.  

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  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor

A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.  

Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.  

The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.  

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

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Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.  

Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.  

According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.  

“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”  

  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery

In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.  

The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway. 

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It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.  

Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.

Their conditions were not immediately available.

An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.  

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