Neighbour of young woman stabbed to death in LA speaks out
Police have identified a man they believe to be the killer of 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer.
The Los Angeles Police Department said that the suspect, Shawn Laval Smith, 31, should be considered armed and dangerous.
A manhunt is underway for a suspect accused of stabbing 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer to death at the furniture store where she worked in Los Angeles.
Ms Kupfer, a graduate student at the University of California – Los Angeles, was alone on a shift at the Croft House showroom on 13 January when a masked man walked in and attacked her, police said. She was found bleeding out on the floor by a customer 20 minutes later and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nearly a week later, the assailant, believed to be a homeless man, is still at large after surveillance video captured him leaving the shop through a back door and walking calmly down an alley.
In addition to a $50,000 reward from the city council, private donations for information relating to the capture of the suspect have now taken the total to in excess of $250,00.
Investigators said Ms Kupfer, who hailed from Pacific Palisades and worked as a design consultant for the high-end retailer, appeared to have been targeted at random.
Her heartbroken father, Todd Kupfer, spoke out about the tragedy on Monday and blamed politicians’ failure to curb surging crime in the city. On the same day, a soon-to-retire nurse was fatally attacked while waiting for a bus downtown.
Who is Brianna Kupfer?
Brianna Kupfer has been described by loved ones as a “kind soul” who “glowed with positivity”.
At the time of her death, the 24-year-old was seeking a graduate degree in architectural design at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
She was also working as a design consultant at the Croft House upscale furniture boutique in Hancock Park in the west of Los Angeles where she was murdered on Thursday 13 January. She leaves behind her parents and three siblings.
Oliver O’Connell has more:
Eleanor Sly19 January 2022 10:38
Images of tributes paid to Brianna Kupfer
(Getty Images)
(AP)
(AP)
Eleanor Sly19 January 2022 08:40
Man arrested over death of LA nurse
A man suspected of attacking and killing a 70-year-old woman at a bus stop in Los Angeles was charged with murder on Tuesday.
Sandra Shells was attacked last Thursday at a bus stop located near to Union Station while on her way to work as a nurse at LA County-USC Medical Center, the district attorney’s office said in a statement.
Ms Shells fell over backwards, hitting her head on the ground. She died in hospital on Sunday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a homeless man was arrested near to the station and booked for investigation of attempted murder.
Kerry Bell, 48, was charged with murder. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.
Eleanor Sly19 January 2022 07:42
Suspect believed to be using public transport
The LAPD said that the suspect, Shawn Laval Smith, is believed to be using public transport.
In a community alert shared by the Los Angeles Police Department, they say that “special attention must be…
Read More News: LAPD identify Shawn Laval Smith as ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect – latest
