LOS ANGELES - The Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles Friday condemned the killing of a Chinese graduate student at the University of Southern California (USC) shortly after midnight, warning other Chinese students to be more alert.

Police investigators said that 24-year-old Xinran Ji was assaulted with a blunt object at 12:45 am Thursday local time (0945 GMT) near the USC 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.

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 further protection steps.