A former University of Arizona graduate student, Murad Dervish, was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting hydrology professor Thomas Meixner on campus in October 2022. Dervish was also convicted of five other felony counts, including aggravated assault. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a verdict, and Dervish is set to be sentenced on June 24, facing a possible life sentence. Meixner, who headed the university’s Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was shot 11 times near his office.
Dervish was expelled from the university in January 2022 due to ongoing issues with professors after receiving a bad grade. His defense attorney argued that Dervish was having a psychotic episode during the shooting and that the crime was not premeditated. The defense urged the jury to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder, which could result in confinement in a psychiatric hospital rather than prison. However, the prosecutor argued that Dervish planned Meixner’s killing, as evidenced by him buying a handgun a month before the shooting.
A criminal complaint stated that a flyer with Dervish’s photograph was circulated to university staff in February 2022, instructing them to call 911 if he entered the building where Meixner worked. Dervish had been barred from school property and was reportedly the subject of several reports of harassment and threats to staff members. Witnesses testified that Dervish was wearing a disguise when he showed up outside Meixner’s office and shot him, before fleeing the scene. He was arrested three hours later by Arizona state troopers, with a loaded handgun found in his vehicle.
Despite the defense’s argument of Dervish losing his mind at the time of the shooting due to severe mental health issues, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and other charges. The prosecutor emphasized that Dervish was not insane, but guilty of the crimes. The case highlights the tragic outcome of a student-professor dispute escalating to violence, leading to the loss of a respected academic in the community. Dervish’s sentencing will determine the consequences he will face for his actions, with the potential of spending life in prison for the murder of Thomas Meixner.
The trial and conviction of Murad Dervish serve as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and conflicts within academic institutions to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future. The case also sheds light on the need for improved security measures on university campuses to protect students, staff, and faculty from potential threats. The impact of Meixner’s death on the university community and the field of hydrology and atmospheric sciences is significant, as his contributions and leadership will be sorely missed. Moving forward, there may be a call for increased awareness and support for mental health resources for students and faculty to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
