A University of Arizona professor has shot and killed yesterday by one of his former students. Dr. Thomas Meixner,52, Professor and Department Head, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was shot and killed in the Harshbarger Building on campus at around 2 PM on October 5th.
Campus police received a call at 1:59 to “escort an individual “who wasn’t allowed to be in that building. UA Police Chief Paula Balafas said, “Someone recognized the student and knew he was not allowed inside the building.” She added that the time from the initial call to the shooting call was only a “matter of minutes.” A faculty member in the building at the time of the incident said he heard 7 to 10 shots. An additional call reported that the suspected shooter had left the scene in a gold van.
Tucson Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene at 2:13, quickly transporting Meixner to Banner University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspected gunman is 46-year-old Murad Dervish, a former graduate student at the university and a student of Meixner. Campus officials quickly identified Dervish, who was later taken into custody by Arizona Department of Public Safety officials about 120 miles away in Gila Bend. University officials did not elaborate on why Dervish was forbidden from being inside the Harshbarger Building.
Meixner received his Ph.D. from the U of A in 1999 and began teaching at the school in 2005 as an associate professor of hydrology and water resources. University President Robert C. Robbins released a statement saying, “This incident is a profound shock to our community, and it is a tragedy. I have no words that can undo it, but I grieve with you for the loss, and I am pained, especially for Tom’s family members, colleagues, and students.”
U of A students were alerted to the shooting and instructed to avoid the Harshbarger Building and surrounding areas. University officials canceled all remaining in-person classes, campus activities, events, and performances on their Tucson main campus. Meanwhile, u of A Police officials say classes should resume on October 6.
