Suspect arrested for fatal stabbing of USC professor
(FOX 11/CNS) - A USC professor was fatally stabbed today on the school's campus, allegedly by a student who was taken into custody.
The stabbing was reported about 4:30 p.m. at the Seeley G. Mudd building in the 3600 block of McClintock Avenue, authorities said.
The victim, identified by USC President C.L. Max Nikias as professor Bosco Tjan, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
From Stephanie Stanton:
A violent end to the last day of classes here on the USC campus. Police tape surrounds the Seely Mudd building where police say a male student stabbed to death psychology professor Bosco Tjan seen here on the USC website.
According to detective Meghan Aguilar with the LAPD, "This was not a random act... This victim was targeted by the suspect so the safety of this campus is not in question."
It happened around 4:30 when someone called 9-1-1. Campus police were the first on scene.
When they arrived the suspect was taken into custody without any problems.
Journalism students from the Annenberg media department were also working the story. They conducted an audio interview with a freshmen who saw the suspect being arrested.
"The guy was being escorted out by police officers... He was like mid-20's kind of sketchy looking he just had like a really flat look on his face" said freshman Jordan Chun.
During the incident, Mudd hall was evacuated and placed on lockdown. The campus sent out texts and an email telling students to stay away but that they and the community were not in danger. Some four hours afterward... Faculty members were trying to get back into the building which was still closed.
This suspect remains in police custody tonight awaiting murder charges.
Earlier:
No information was immediately released about the male student in custody.
The university issued an alert to students warning of police activity at the Mudd building.
There was no threat to the campus or surrounding community, the alert stated, but people were nonetheless warned to avoid the area.
An LAPD spokeswoman said the killing was not a random act.
In a letter to the USC community, Nikias wrote that Tjan was a psychology professor who joined the USC faculty in 2001.
The killing occurred on the final day of classes before finals.
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