After being expelled from the University of Arizona, a man entered a building at the school’s Tucson campus Wednesday and fatally shot Professor Thomas Meixner, head of the UA hydrology and atmospheric sciences department.
University of Arizona police identified the alleged killer as 46-year-old Murad Dervish. As of Friday, he was listed as an inmate by the Pima County Adult Detention Center.
According to the University of Arizona Police Department, Dervish entered the John W. Harshbarger Building at around 2 p.m. Wednesday and fatally shot one victim. Around three hours later, the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Dervish was driving and took him into custody as a suspect in the shooting.
That day, the university cancelled classes and advised all students and faculty to go home. The school also offered counseling services.
“It’s a tremendously tragic event. We feel so incredibly bad for the professor’s family, friends and colleagues, and our hearts just really go out to them” said UAPD Chief P. Balafas.
Tuscon.com reported that Dervish, has lived in San Diego, Calif., and grew up in Pennsylvania. He is being charged on suspicion of first-degree murder and aggravated assault [with] a deadly weapon (identified by authorities as a handgun), said a law enforcement spokesperson cited by the outlet.
While growing up he got good grades and had a normal childhood said his father, according to Tuscon.com. However, his father said that he did not have many friends.
“He was a different child,” said the suspect’s father, who added that his son had been to prison three times. One of those times was for attempting to strangle his mother with a scarf. Dervish also allegedly tried to kill his father with a crowbar.
UA police said that Dervish was expelled and not allowed on the school’s campus. However, he hadn’t been put on the exclusionary order list yet.
Professor Meixner was an expert on desert water issues.
“Wednesday’s tragic killing of Professor Thomas Meixner at the University of Arizona is a deep wound to the Tucson community. It is a special suffering for our Catholic family as he, along with his dear wife and sons, have always been active and beloved members of our Catholic Church,” said a statement issued Thursday by Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of the Diocese of Tucson. The bishop said Meixner survived by his wife and sons, his extended family, friends, colleagues and students.
Meixner’s family also provided a statement to the Daily Wildcat.
“Thomas Meixner was an incredible son, brother, husband, father, uncle, colleague and friend,” the statement said. “He loved his family, friends, coworkers, the University of Arizona and the greater Tucson community.
He always focused on helping others in all he did. The loss of Tom has left a giant emptiness in our hearts.”
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