Acquaintances relieved that police have identified suspect
Yesterday's news that a suspect had been identified in the murder of a UA student from China brought a sense of relief to the people who knew him.
The Tucson Police Department identified a suspect, Wenshi Zhou, 37, for his involvement in the Nov. 3 murder of doctoral student Jianquing Yang, 32, and his wife Yu Yun Chen, 33, in their midtown apartment.
Many students and staff who knew Yang said they were frustrated with the lack of information given by police.
TPD spokeswoman Sgt. Judy Altieri said little information is given out during any investigation to ensure the credibility of any tips.
Victor Hruby, Yang's doctoral adviser in chemistry, said that although the Nov. 24 funeral service left people with some sense of closure, the fact that police now have a suspect is a greater relief.
"Now with the family having come to the funeral, there was some sense of resolution, but there was still something hanging over people's heads on who did this," Hruby said. "At least you know there are (TPD detectives) on the right track."
As Yang's death brought grief to many in the chemistry department, Kenneth Marsh, director of counseling and psychological services for Campus Health, held group sessions to give those affected a chance to vent their feelings.
Marsh said that the release of new information will help bring closure to the people grieving the student's death -as long as the information is accurate.
"In order for people to get closure, (it) requires information (and) some knowledge," Marsh said. "I think whether that (information) serves that function would depend on if the information from police is credible."
Siliang Li, executive vice president of the Association for Chinese Students and Scholars, said that although the information is comforting, people should not let their guard down.
"I even tell my friends that although this was a personal conflict, you still need to be careful," Li said. "Especially to young students, they don't know some of the people they're dealing with."
ACSS raised more than $30,000 to care for the couple's 6-year-old daughter. The money came from as close to home as the chemistry department, to as far away as the United Kingdom.
The daughter returned to China with family members last week.
