Shawn Laval Smith, a 34-year-old transient, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the brutal murder of UCLA graduate student Brianna Kupfer in a Hancock Park furniture store. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder, with special circumstances of lying in wait and using a deadly weapon, after stabbing Kupfer 46 times on January 13, 2022. The conviction and sentencing followed a brief hearing where Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo ruled that Smith was sane at the time of the crime, rejecting his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The murder, captured on an audio recording, was described as motivated by Smith's broader hatred for women, as he targeted Kupfer while she was working alone. Kupfer's family, who spoke emotionally at the sentencing, described Smith as 'beyond evil' and expressed the lasting impact of the crime. A restitution hearing is scheduled for November 25 to determine financial compensation for Kupfer's family.