USC Graduate Student Found Dead in Apartment

Update 7/25 1:18 p.m.

Police have now identified the victim as Xinran Ji.

Yannis C. Yortsos, Dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, said university officials have spoken to Ji's family and were making arrangements for them to travel to Los Angeles.

"We are providing our support to them as well as other members of our campus community who knew him," Yortsos said. "As a dean and professor but also as a Viterbi parent, this news hits me very deeply. On behalf of the school, my heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim."

The investigation is ongoing, but new advances have been made. LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said Ji was attacked around 12:45 a.m. near 29th Street and Orchard Avenue by at least three people.

"We don't have descriptions on those individuals," Neiman said. "We do have a possible dark-colored vehicle that may or may not be associated with this crime and those individuals, and we're hoping the public will come forward and provide any information they may have related to something they may have seen."

Neiman said Ji was struck with an unknown type of "blunt-force object." Ji had apparently been with a study group and had just walked a friend home before heading toward his own apartment when the attack occurred, Neiman said.

"We are looking for any and all information that may - however insignificant it may feel to the person - please provide that to our investigators," Neiman said.

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A USC graduate student was found dead on Thursday at an apartment in the University Park area north of campus. Los Angeles Police Department said the body was found shortly after 7 a.m. in the 1200 block of West 30th Street. Police said the student "may have been the victim of an assault.”

In a letter to the USC Community, Provost Elizabeth Garrett said the man died from some type of head injury, "the cause of which has not been determined.''

Police found a visible trail of blood from 29th and Orchard to City Park Apartments. There is no official
word on where or if the student was attacked.

The LAPD’s Criminal Gang Homicide Division is conducting the investigation, along with the Department of Public Safety.

The student’s identity has not yet been released. Garrett said they are in the process of “reaching out to the student’s family, roommate and friends to offer all appropriate support and counseling.”

“Our hearts are with the victim’s family and friends, and our entire Trojan Family,” said Garrett.

Anyone with information should contact the LAPD.