Hatchet-wielding Arizona man charged with murder after victim dies of injuries

Two weeks after a horrifying hatchet attack that nearly decapitated a man at a bus stop in Tucson, Arizona, the suspect has now been charged with first-degree murder. Daniel Michael, 25, was initially charged with aggravated assault and serious injury after the brutal attack on April 5. The victim, Jacob Couch, 32, was left on life support following the incident.

Tragically, on Friday, Couch succumbed to his injuries, leading to the upgraded charges against Michael. “He\’s got the biggest heart that I believe I\’ve ever met,” said Couch’s younger brother, Luke Couch, in a statement to Fox News Digital earlier this month. “He was just a caring person. He loved his family. He was really big about his family.”

Couch and his wife, Kristen, were returning home to Arab, Alabama, after mourning the loss of their stillborn son in California. Their bus made a stop in Tucson, where the horrific attack took place. According to Luke, a confrontation ensued after someone told them to move, leading to the senseless violence that resulted in Jacob Couch’s tragic death.

Witnesses reported that Michael, unprovoked, attacked Couch with a hatchet as he bent down to gather his belongings. Michael fled the scene but was apprehended three days later at his Tucson residence. Despite claims of self-defense from Michael’s lawyer, Luke Couch vehemently denied any justification for the brutal assault, emphasizing that his brother was attacked from behind while defenseless.

“I want to make sure this man never does this again and no other family has to go through what my family has gone through,” Luke expressed. “To see my brother lying in a hospital bed and unable to move, unable to do anything, it hurts so bad to know that I wasn’t able to be there to protect him because he would have done it for me in a heartbeat. We as a family want swift justice.”

Jacob Couch leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter, further highlighting the devastating impact of this senseless act of violence. As the legal proceedings progress, the family seeks closure and justice for the beloved husband and father who was taken too soon.