They came with plenty of questions. The most important: "Were they safe?"
About 30 UC Davis students, most of whom live in the Russell Park apartment complex, met with university police, campus officials and the head of Yolo County's bomb squad Tuesday night, days after a suspicious blast at the apartment of a campus researcher led to the man's arrest on felony explosives and weapons allegations.
The meeting took place at The Colleges at La Rue student housing complex near the Russell Park complex, where David Snyder, 32, was injured during the explosion on Thursday morning.
The blast, which caused only minor damage to Snyder's apartment, forced the evacuation of 40 other housing units in five buildings, home to 74 people, including postdoctoral students, spouses and children.
Students were concerned about their exposure to chemicals in Snyder's apartment and those recovered and disposed of in an open area east of the UC Davis campus.
They wanted to know whether others might be connected to the explosion and what might have been done to keep residents informed as the incident unfolded.
UC Davis Police Chief Matt Carmichael tried to reassure residents still on edge that authorities worked to keep them safe.
Detailing what was done during the hours after the apartment blast, Carmichael said, "Nothing remains there that is dangerous. That apartment is safe."
The forum provided answers and some relief for Russell Park resident Juan Wang.
"Now that I know it's one guy, I feel safe," Wang said. I'm glad it's over now."
Snyder remains held in lieu of $2 million bail at Yolo County jail on suspicion of felony possession of an explosive, possession of materials with intent to manufacture an explosive device and possession of firearms on campus.
He faces arraignment Thursday afternoon in Yolo Superior Court in Woodland.
Yolo County prosecutors were reviewing the case against Snyder on Tuesday and expect to file formal charges today, said Michael Cabral, chief assistant deputy district attorney.
Snyder earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry at UC Davis in 2004.
Russell Park residents said before the forum that they saw or knew little of their neighbor Snyder, but remained disturbed by last week's blast and fortunate that it wasn't worse.
"Scary – after you find this stuff out, you think you're lucky no one was hurt," said Justin Aflatooni, who lives near Snyder.
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