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Police Detain Man Suspected Of Murdering 24-Year-Old UCLA Student

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(Photo by LAURA BUCKMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Melanie Wilcox Contributor
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The Los Angeles Police Department apprehended Wednesday the suspect who allegedly stabbed a University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) graduate student to death at her furniture store job Jan. 13.

“We can confirm, Shawn Laval Smith, the suspect responsible for the murder of Brianna Kupfer is in custody, after being located and detained by Pasadena PD around 11:50am this morning in the area of Fair Oaks and Colorado Blvd,” the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said in a statement.

The LAPD identified Smith Tuesday, and said he should be “considered armed and dangerous.” (RELATED: 24-Year-Old Grad Student Stabbed To Death Working In Luxury Store By A ‘Random Walk In,’ Police Say)

Kupfer, a 24-year-old student texted her friend saying she felt uncomfortable by his presence after a man entered the Croft House furniture store on North La Brea Avenue on Jan. 13, according to Fox News. Moments later, he stabbed her.

“She sent a text to a friend letting her know that there was someone inside the location that was giving her a bad vibe,” LAPD Lt. John Radtke said, according to the outlet. “Regrettably, that person did not see the text immediately.”

Surveillance footage then shows Smith buying a vape pen in cash at a 7-Eleven after the murder, according to the outlet.

Police said Tuesday anyone who spots Smith should call 911. He has been seen in Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Covina and San Diego, and has not been apprehended.

Los Angeles County Jail records show on Oct. 27, 2020, Covina police arrested Smith on a misdemeanor charge before he was released on $1,000 bail, the outlet reported.

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