Murad Dervish, a former University of Arizona graduate student, was found guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting hydrology professor Thomas Meixner on campus in October 2022. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Dervish, who also faced five other felony charges, including aggravated assault. Dervish, who showed no emotion during the verdict, is awaiting sentencing on June 24, with the possibility of a life sentence in prison. Meixner, who was the head of the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was shot 11 times near his office where the incident took place. Dervish had been expelled from the university earlier that year due to ongoing conflicts with professors following a poor grade.
During the trial, Dervish’s defense attorney argued that he was in the midst of a psychotic episode at the time of the shooting, claiming that the crime was not premeditated. The defense suggested that Dervish should be held accountable but urged the jury to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder, which could result in confinement in a psychiatric hospital rather than a prison sentence. The defense highlighted Dervish’s history of mental health issues, including psychosis, autism with schizoid features, and clinical depression. However, the prosecution countered that evidence indicated Dervish had planned Meixner’s killing and had purchased a handgun a month earlier, suggesting premeditation.
According to a criminal complaint, Dervish had been banned from school property and was the subject of several reports of harassment and threats to staff members before the shooting. A flyer with Dervish’s photograph was circulated to university staff with instructions to call 911 if he was seen on the premises. Witnesses testified that Dervish arrived outside Meixner’s office wearing a surgical mask and baseball cap as a disguise before shooting the professor. He fled the scene but was apprehended by Arizona state troopers three hours later, more than 120 miles away from the campus.
The prosecution argued that Dervish was not guilty but instead was guilty of the crimes he was charged with, disputing the defense’s claim of insanity. The jury ultimately found Dervish guilty of first-degree murder and other felony charges, holding him responsible for the shooting. Dervish is scheduled to be sentenced later this month, facing the possibility of a life sentence in prison for his actions. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of a conflict between a student and a professor that escalated to violence, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health issues and conflict resolution on college campuses to prevent similar incidents in the future.
