Murad Dervish, a former University of Arizona graduate student, was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting hydrology professor Thomas Meixner on campus, months after being expelled. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching a verdict, also convicting Dervish of five other felony counts, including aggravated assault. Dervish, who showed no emotion as the verdicts were read, 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.
Authorities stated that Dervish was banned from the school in January 2022 and later expelled due to ongoing issues with professors after receiving a bad grade. Defense attorney Leo Masursky argued that Dervish was having a psychotic episode during the shooting and that the crime was not premeditated. Masursky urged jurors to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder, which could result in confinement in a psychiatric hospital rather than a prison cell. However, prosecutor Mark Hotchkiss argued that evidence showed Dervish planned Meixner’s killing, purchasing a 9 mm handgun a month before using it in the shooting.
According to a criminal complaint, a flyer with Dervish’s photograph was circulated to University staff in February 2022 with instructions to call 911 if he ever entered the building where Meixner worked. Dervish was barred from school property and subject to reports of harassment and threats to staff members. Witnesses testified that Dervish wore a surgical mask and baseball cap as a disguise when he showed up outside Meixner’s office and shot the professor. Dervish fled the scene but was arrested three hours later after being stopped by Arizona state troopers more than 120 miles away from Tucson. A loaded handgun found in his vehicle matched the ammunition found at the scene of the shooting.
Defense attorney Masursky reiterated that Dervish had severe mental health issues and did not know right from wrong during the shooting. Masursky argued that jurors should consider Dervish being not guilty but insane, suggesting that he be held accountable but confined in a psychiatric hospital rather than prison. However, prosecutor Hotchkiss maintained that Dervish was guilty of premeditated murder, citing evidence that he planned the killing by purchasing the handgun prior to the shooting. Dervish’s sentencing is scheduled for June 24, where he faces the possibility of life in prison. The case highlights the devastating consequences of untreated mental health issues and the importance of early intervention and support for individuals struggling with mental illnesses.
