A man died on Thursday, nearly two weeks after he was reportedly attacked with a hatchet while at a bus stop in Arizona.
A man named Daniel Michael, aged 25, has been accused of first-degree murder by the Tucson police following the death of Daniel Couch. The incident occurred on April 6, where it is reported that Michael attacked Couch, aged 32, with a hatchet while Couch was with his wife at a transit stop.
After being presented with surveillance footage, Michael confessed to being the perpetrator. The hatchet that was used in the fatal assault was said to have been discovered in Michael’s residence.
McMichael was apprehended three days after the incident. KOLD reported that Couch was on life support until his death.
According to the police, the victim, Couch, was seated on a bench with his wife when Michael approached them aggressively, yelling. In response, Couch engaged with Michael, who then allegedly struck him in the back of the neck with the hatchet.
“The injury cut the artery in the back of his neck in half. It went so deep that it hit his skull,” Couch’s sister-in-law told KOLD.
McMichael reportedly told police that he had been drinking and did not recall what happened. However, he later recalled confronting Couch.
McMichael was originally charged with aggravated assault, but the charges were updated to include first-degree murder following Couch’s death.
McMichael remains jailed on a $1 million bond. He is due in court on April 28.
