Family speaks out on USC grad student's death

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KABC) -- The family of Xinran Ji, a USC graduate student who died after being beaten in a robbery, arrived to see him at a funeral home in Alhambra on Thursday.

They stepped outside 45 minutes later. His mother and father were overcome with emotion.

Ji's parents don't speak English. A cousin spoke on behalf of the family, with help from a translator, who said Ji was killed just one year before he was set to graduate.

"And this tragedy, the terrible tragedy happened, which has a profound impact to the parents," the translator said.

According to LAPD, the 24-year-old student was attacked by a group of teenagers outside his apartment last Thursday morning. Prosecutors allege the suspects used a bat and wrench to beat up the electrical engineering student during a random robbery.

The four teens are now charged in the death. All of the suspects are under the age of 20, and each is being held in county jail without bail.

Daniel Dang, the family's attorney, is upset for his clients. He had a message for the university.

"If you do not do enough to ensure the safety of Chinese students, will have no choice but warn our parents not to send their kids to USC."

According to Dang, Ji's parents last saw their son over Christmas in China. They hoped he would return over summer, but he decided otherwise.