Four Arrests Made in Grad Student Killing

Two adults and two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the death of 24-year-old USC grad student Xinran Ji last week, according to the LAPD. 

Xinran was walking home from a study group when police say he was probably attacked by five people, LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said. LAPD suspects the attack was an attempted robbery. 

Jonathan Del Carmen, 19, and Andrew Garcia, 18, were arrested on suspicion of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery. Alberto Ochoa, 17 and Alejandra Guerrero, 16 were also arrested under the same charges. The group was charged with murder on Tuesday. A 14-year-old woman has also been detained in connection with a related robbery and is being questioned about the assault. 

Garcia, Ochoa and Guerrero are accused of using a bat to attack the victim, who was walking home from a study session. The security technology that the LAPD and USC DPS has invested in the area helped law enforcement locate the suspects, according to LAPD.

Police also said three of the suspects robbed and attacked a man and woman at Dockweiler Beach hours before the attack on Xinran. In addition to murder, Garcia, Ochoa and Guerrero were also charged with one count each of robbery, attempted robbery and assault.

Police say the crime is not gang related, and they do not have reason to believe it was racially motivated. Del Carmen and Garcia could face the death penalty. Ochoa and Guerrero were charged as adults but cannot face the death peanlty because they are under 18.

USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett released a statement to the USC community:

"While we were relieved to hear the news of the arrests and we are confident that the investigation will lead to the appropriate punishment of those who committed this heinous act, we continue to grieve deeply as a community for Xinran, his family and his friends. 

We will continue to do our best to provide a secure environment for our campus and the area around it, hoping to avoid such senseless tragedies.  However, this is a reminder to all students, faculty and staff to continue to take precautions, particularly at night."

The Viterbi School of Engineering will hold a memorial later this week when Xinran's family arrives from China.