3 months after Brianna Kupfer’s death, rising crime is still a major issue in the area
Two women were attacked in broad daylight in Los Angeles earlier this year. One of them was almost raped. The incidents, which happened minutes apart, took place near the Brianna Kupfer murder scene.
The West Hollywood incidents are the latest examples of a city that is fighting rising crime rates. Surveillance video caught a homeless man pushing a young woman into a residential garage.
The woman managed to get away from him before a possible rape. She immediately ran out of the garage to go get help.
A second woman went through a similar situation about 30 minutes later in the same neighborhood. The suspect pushed the female into her apartment.
She was able to scare him away with her screams. Lieutenant John Adams, of the West Hollywood division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, told the DailyMail.com: “It sounds like he basically followed the female in. It was unlocked, and he was able to enter in through the unlocked.”
Crime is a major issue around the country. However, it is not clear if politicians have the will to make drastic changes.
What happened to Brianna Kupfer?
In January, police released a video and photographs of a suspect they were looking for in connection with Brianna Kupfer’s murder.
The video showed a man calmly walking into a 7-Eleven store where he bought a vape pen from the shop clerk.
Dressed all in black, he was seen returning shortly afterward to exchange the vape pen.
According to police, the suspect allegedly then traveled 4 miles from the 7-Eleven shop, where he killed 24-year-old design consultant Brianna Kupfer.
John Radke of the Los Angeles Police Department said that Kupfer — a graduate of UCLA — had texted a friend just minutes before her death to say that somebody in the Croft House furniture store was giving her bad vibes.
She was not supposed to be working that day but was committed to her job and a “rising star,” Brianna’s father, Todd Kupfer, said.
Brianna was alone when the killer entered the shop at around 1:50 pm. Her body was found 20 minutes later by a customer who alerted the police.
She was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency services arrived.
How did the community react?
A reward of $250,000, which included donations of $200,000 from the local community, was offered to anyone with information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
He was believed to be homeless, despite his neat appearance. Moreover, he was seen visiting different businesses in the area before and after he visited Croft House.
The attack appeared to be random, according to police, who later identified the suspect but found no clear motive for the killing.
Councilman Paul Koretz vowed that this “vicious criminal” would be found and prosecuted to the full extent allowed by the legal system.
Brianna Kupfer Foundation marks her 25th birthday with a powerful message
Kupfer is remembered as a “caring” and “loving” person, according to her dad, Todd, and was a devoted family member and a “great friend.”
A foundation (The Brianna Kupfer Foundation) has been set up in her name. It focuses on pushing social issues that were dear to her heart. Her loved ones are urging everyone to keep spreading love on her behalf. April 9, Brianna Kupfer would have turned 25.
Brianna’s father, Todd Kupfer, marked the day by saying: “Today’s a day that, you know, that’s indelible in our memories, an event that occurred three months ago. We wanted to have a day where we really honored her and appreciate all the great values that she stood for.”
The grieving parent wants to keep the memory of his daughter alive. He hopes that her name can still be a force for good.
Shawn Laval Smith, Brianna Kupfer’s suspected killer, has a mental episode in court
The suspected killer was eventually arrested. Shawn Laval Smith, 31, suffers from mental illness and has had multiple run-ins with the law since 2010.
Brianna Kupfer’s accused killer appeared in court on Thursday, and he suffered a mental breakdown during the showing. Because of the mental episode, he could not enter a plea.
He is still being held on a $2 million bail. It is not clear when he will return to court.
