Relief and reaction to Annie Le arrest

News of the Yale-homicide arrest is resonating a sense of relief through the Yale community as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

In a brief press conference, on the steps of Woodbridge Hall, Yale President Richard Levin reacted to the news that one of Yale's own, a lab tech, has been arrested for the murder of graduate student Annie Le.

"We're relieved and encouraged by this progress in the investigation," said Levin. "But it's important to resist the temptation to rush to judgment until a full, and fair, prosecution of this case brings a just resolution."

And, Levin was quick to defend the University's hiring practices.

"Mr. Clark has been a lab technician at Yale since December 2004, his supervisor reports that nothing in the history of his employment here gave any indication that his involvement in such a crime might be possible," said Levin.

But students say their faith in this Ivy League institution has been shaken, if not shattered.

"This was something really close, I mean, it happened in a Yale building and that always seemed like a really safe place to be but it's kind of violated," said Yale Junior Mansur Tokmouline.

Violated in the most awful way, Le was strangled and her body then was stuck in the wall in the building at 10 Amistad Street. This all allegedly happened at the hands of Clark. For over a week, there's been intense speculation and fear.

"I think we were definitely really concerned about safety for awhile," Tokmouline said.

With a suspect behind bars they can at last begin to move forward. Although students must now come to grips with the fact that this was not an outsider and not an intruder. Instead, it was one of their own that could be capable of the most gruesome crime.

"I just feel it's like little bit mysterious," said Yale Junior Xiaotian Su. "I read the newspaper this morning, it seems like people around him think he's a really nice guy and couldn't believe he's a murderer."

There was intense media attention and early reports on at least two national shows which said Yale University is in a bad neighborhood.

Peter Lupi owns Lupi-Legna Bakery and has been on the same corner of Cedar Street, in New Haven, for over 80 years and happens to disagree.

"Never, never [have I ever felt unsafe]," Lupi said.

In fact, the biggest disruption to their business: the media mob camped out on his doorstep.

"It's been a crazy week, starting Monday when I pulled into work, all the camera crews were here," Lupi said.

The scene has certainly calmed down now that Yale Lab Tech Clark has been arrested. And, 10 Amistad Street has since re-opened. The only reminder of recent events: flowers laid out front. But the revelation that this was not random, or a street crime, has many here feeling unfairly targeted.

"I feel it's really offensive," said Brian Jacobs of New Haven.

Jacobs said people shouldn't jump to conclusions.

"I think it's kind of messed up because yeah, this is an urban area but just because it's an urban area doesn't mean, you know, we're out here killing each other or selling drugs to each other," Jacobs said.

Over at Yale, the President of the Clerical and Technical Workers Union said the issue isn't about where it happened but who it happened to.

"It is not just a question of security at Yale, or safety in New Haven, it is also a question of the violence against women that is pervasive in our world," said Laura Smith.

That is certainly the case with domestic situations. But, it is actually very rare with workplace violence.

According to OSHA , in the last five years in Connecticut, 76-percent of victims in workplace violence were men and 81-percent of those incidents were shootings.

The Le case blows all the normal pre-conceived notions away; part of why it's captured so much attention. But across this campus and the city, folks can agree on one thing: they're glad it may finally be resolved.

"Everyone's relieved," Lupi said.