The University of Arizona (UA) announced on Tuesday that it settled all remaining legal claims with the family of a professor who was killed on the university’s campus in 2022.
In a statement on the university’s website, the UA confirmed the school and Arizona Board of Regents “agreed to a resolution of the legal claims” arising from the death of Professor Thomas Meixner in 2022.
Meixner (pictured above), who was head of the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, was fatally shot in October 2022 at the university’s Tucson campus. Police identified their suspect as 46-year-old Murad Dervish, a former student at the university who Fox 10 Phoenix reported was expelled and banned from the campus.
A subsequent safety report published by the university identified “systemic issues across our university that should have been identified and corrected” prior to Meixner’s death, said UA President Dr. Robert Robbins according to the outlet.
“I’m angry at myself that I did not do more to prevent this tragedy, and most of all, I’m angry at the man who took from us, our loved one, friend and colleague,” Robbins said.
Arizona attorney Larry Wulkan, who represents Meixner’s family, called the settlement “a testament that accountability is possible in a world where our legal system often protects institutions at the expense of providing appropriate recompense to victims” in a statement on his website.
Meixiner’s wife, in her statement, noted the UA is implementing 33 security recommendations she said “should make the U of A community safer and provide a model to other campuses.”
The university has continued to face security issues, including in December 2023, when three female UA students reported being attacked by a suspect who sought to abduct the women near the Tucson campus.
Police had not identified or located the individual responsible by January 9, but Arizona’s Family reported the suspect has been described as a dark complected, possibly Hispanic male who is roughly six feet tall. The suspect’s vehicle was described as a four-door dark blue passenger car with a dented front bumper, tinted windows, and a damaged Arizona license plate.
Following a $240 million miscalculation of the university’s cash reserves, which prompted the resignation of UA Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Rulney, it was reported on Tuesday that Rulney remains an employee of the university and has retained her $500,000 salary.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Thomas Meixner” by University of Arizona.Â
