Flowers, candles and letters lay in front of the Harshbarger building sign following the murder of Professor Thomas Meixner on Wed. Oct. 5, 2022 at the University of Arizona. Meixner was killed by a former student on campus.
The University of Arizona is now working with former professor Thomas Meixner's family to resolve a notice of claim they filed in March.
Meixner was killed on campus by alleged shooter Murad Dervish on Oct. 5th last year. Meixner, along with a student and other faculty, were subject to a year’s worth of alleged harassment and threats by Dervish. Reports of these threats were sent to university departments like the Office of General Counsel and the University of Arizona Police Department. But, when the $9 million notice of claim was filed against the Arizona Board of Regents, Meixners’ attorneys claimed “the university’s utter failure to do even the bare minimum, to ensure safety on its campus, resulted” in the department head’s death.
A UA spokesperson provided AZPM with the following statement:
"To honor the memory of Professor Thomas Meixner on the anniversary of his death, the University and Professor Meixner’s family are working together to resolve the claim that the Meixner family has brought against the University. The University and the Meixner family look forward to improving the safety and security of all those touched by this killing, as well as doing everything possible to ensure such a tragedy does not strike anyone in the University of Arizona family again."
The family's attorney confirmed the information relayed to AZPM saying, “Every day, we grieve the loss of Thomas Meixner. He was a beloved Wildcat, a brilliant mind, and an exceptional father and husband. On the anniversary of Thomas’ tragic murder, the Meixner family is, with courage and love, tirelessly working for change to ensure the safety of all Wildcats.”
The news comes on the one-year mark of Meixner's death.
The Arizona Board of Regents holds the license for AZPM.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.