Chinese student dies after being attacked near University of Southern California campus

A Chinese graduate student at the University of Southern California who was discovered dead in his apartment had been attacked by at least three people a few blocks from the Los Angeles campus.

Police said engineering student Ji Xinran was walking home at about 12.45am on Thursday when he was attacked by the group armed with an "unknown blunt object".

A spokesman said: "Following the attack, the victim was able to make his way back to his apartment a short distance away where he was found dead later that morning." He added that Ji's family had been notified.

His body was discovered by officers at about 7am on Thursday at the apartment complex.

In a letter posted by USC senior vice-president Elizabeth Garrett on the university website, officials stressed the death "was an isolated incident and there was, and is, no apparent threat to the campus community".

Pete Foster, an officer with the university's Department of Public Safety, added that "any area around USC is really safe".

But some students pointed to a history of deadly violence on or near the campus.