A 24-year-old Chinese student at the University of Southern California has been found dead in a student apartment after being assaulted in Los Angeles.
Police investigators said Xinran Ji was assaulted with a blunt object on Thursday near the University campus while walking back to his nearby apartment, where he apparently succumbed to his injury on head.
The motive for the attack is still under investigation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles has condemned the killing of Ji shortly after midnight, warning other Chinese students to be more alert.
In a statement issued in Chinese, the Consulate General said it is shocked by the cruel and harsh nature of the case and it asked the US authorities to arrest the killer as soon as possible and take more measures to protect Chinese students in the United States.
Two years ago, two other Chinese graduate students were gunned down near campus.
The Consulate General also said it has reminded Chinese students to be more alert and take protection steps.
