Parents of Slain USC Student Arrive in the United States
According to a family friend, their trip from China to Los Angeles faced many hurdles. Xianren Kong is a friend of the family. He read a statement on behalf of the victim’s parents Tuesday. He said the couple was “extremely angry about this horrific act of violence,” but was also struggling to make it into the United States. The couple says they had to cancel several airline tickets. “The only thing in our mind is our son. We want to see him. We would be extremely grateful to the U.S. if they can help us to get visas.”
The couple is also asking USC to increase security for its students. “We hope that USC can enhance security and guarantee the safety of USC students,” the two added in their written statement.
Police say four people attacked Ji while he was walking home earlyThursday. Two adults and two teenagers were arrested in connection with the crime. Police identified the suspects as Jonathan DelCarmen, 19; Andrew Garcia, 18; Alberto Ochoa, 17; and Alejandra Guerrero, 16. Officials believe Garcia, Ochoa and Guerrero used a bat to beat Ji to death. All four were charged with murder Tuesday and are being held without bail.
Investigators also believe the graduate student was robbed moments before he was murdered. Prosecutors may use the attempted robbery to seek the death penalty against DelCarmen and Garcia. The two other suspects will not face the death penalty because they are minors.
The defendants are due back in court on August 12th for arraignment.
City News Service contributed to this report.
If the parents simply fly into TIJ and proceed north on foot they will be waved past. Normally I'd offer a shuttle van to L.A. but all our reserved buses are fully booked for deliveries to Vermont, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, the Dakotas, and so forth