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, who was expelled from the university following issues with professors, shot Meixner 11 times near his office. He was also convicted of five other felony counts, including aggravated assault for grazing a building manager with a bullet. Dervish, who showed no emotion during the verdict reading, is set to be sentenced on June 24 and could face life in prison.
Meixner, 52, was the head of the university’s Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, while Dervish was in the master’s degree program in atmospheric sciences. Dervish had a history of problems with professors and had received a bad grade, leading to his expulsion and ban from the school in January 2022. Defense attorney Leo Masursky argued that Dervish was having a psychotic episode during the shooting and urged jurors to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder due to mental health issues. However, prosecutor Mark Hotchkiss argued that evidence showed Dervish planned Meixner’s killing and purchased a handgun a month before the shooting, refuting claims of insanity.
A criminal complaint revealed that a flyer with Dervish’s photo was circulated to university staff, instructing them to call 911 if he entered the building where Meixner worked. Dervish had been barred from school property and was the subject of reports of harassment and threats to staff members. Witnesses testified that Dervish wore a disguise, including a surgical mask and baseball cap, when he shot Meixner outside his office. After the shooting, Dervish fled the scene but was arrested by Arizona state troopers on a highway more than 120 miles from Tucson. A loaded handgun found in his car matched the ammunition used in the shooting, further implicating Dervish in the murder.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a verdict in Dervish’s case, finding him guilty of first-degree murder and other felony charges related to the shooting. Despite claims of mental health issues, the prosecution argued that Dervish’s actions were premeditated, citing his purchase of the firearm before the incident. Defense attorney Masursky maintained that Dervish was not in his right mind during the shooting and should be held accountable for his actions. Dervish is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, facing the possibility of life in prison for the murder of Professor Meixner on the University of Arizona campus.
The conviction of Murad Dervish for the first-degree murder of Thomas Meixner marked the end of a tragic chapter at the University of Arizona. The shooting, which occurred near Meixner’s office, sent shockwaves through the campus community and left colleagues and students mourning the loss of a respected professor. Dervish’s expulsion and subsequent violent actions highlighted the importance of addressing mental health issues and potential threats in academic settings. As Dervish faces a likely life sentence for his crimes, the university and the broader community continue to grapple with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.
