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Friends, Fellow Students Mourning USC Sophomore Found Dead

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A USC student found dead at his apartment has been identified as a sophomore business student from Singapore, according to Neon Tommy.

USC Marshall School of Business Dean James G. Ellis told the publication Thu Yain "Roy" Kyaw died over the weekend.

Students at the business school and members of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi were grieving the loss after friends found Kyaw unconscious and not breathing in his apartment Sunday.

Sid Gupta, a close friend of Kyaw who heard the news Monday, said his emotions were still raw.

"Empty, I guess," Gupta said. "Roy is not someone you ever expect to go anywhere. He's always been there for everyone."

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed a man was found dead at an apartment complex in the 1300 block of West 29th Street.

LAPD said no foul play was suspected, but his cause of death remains unknown. Reports of alcohol poisoning were unconfirmed and the coroner's office said toxicology results could take months.

Gupta said he did not know Kyaw to drink excessively.

"Not even close. He's the one who would always be the D.D. or be sober, so I can't even believe that that's the reason," he said.

Kyaw reportedly has an older brother who is graduating from the business school this year. Gupta said his heart breaks for his brother and their family.

"The world lost like one of the nicest, most kindest, strongest people that I've ever known and I'm sure he would have been an asset to anyone, anywhere," said Gupta. "It's a real shame."

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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