Two students from China, 23, shot and killed near USC *

The graduate students in electrical engineering were in a BMW about a mile from campus when both were shot early this morning, possibly in a robbery or carjacking attempt. They were identified as Ying Wu and Ming Qu and were killed on Wu's block of South Raymond Avenue, north and west of campus in the West Adams area. Police are investigating. "Our community is saddened and outraged by this callous and meaningless act," USC said in a statement. Neon Tommy is swarming developments.

* Fixed residence of the victims. Qu had given Wu a ride home, friends said.

Neon Tommy photo of the crime scene by Alan Mittelstaedt