It happened on a Tuesday morning. Broad daylight. April 5, 2025. You’d think the corner of East Broadway Boulevard and South 6th Avenue in downtown Tucson would be safe at 10:00 a.m., but for Jacob Couch and his wife Kristin, it became the site of a nightmare. They weren't even from Arizona. They were just passing through, trying to get home to Arab, Alabama, after grieving the loss of their stillborn son in California.
Then they met Daniel Michael.
The Daniel Michael hatchet attack is one of those crimes that feels so random it’s hard to wrap your head around. There was no history between these people. No long-standing feud. Just a man with a weapon and a couple waiting for a bus.
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The Confrontation at the Bus Stop
Jacob and Kristin were sitting there, minding their own business, when a man later identified as 25-year-old Daniel Michael approached them. According to Luke Couch, Jacob’s brother, Michael seemed agitated, maybe even drunk. He told the couple to get up. Jacob, being a protective guy but not looking for a fight, basically told him to mind his own business.
Things felt off. Kristen could sense the tension spiking. She told Jacob they should just leave, so they started gathering their bags.
Jacob bent over. That was the moment.
Witnesses say Michael pulled out a hatchet, raised it high over his head, and swung. He struck Jacob in the back of the neck. The force was so extreme that reports described the injury as a "near decapitation." It’s the kind of detail that makes your stomach turn.
After the strike, Michael didn't panic. He didn't run. He just walked away and hopped on a public streetcar like nothing happened.
The Search for Daniel Michael
Tucson police didn't have to look for long, but those three days while Michael was at large were tense. They used surveillance footage from the area and the streetcar to track him down. On April 8, they found him at his home on the east side of Tucson.
When they searched the house, they found the hatchet.
They also showed Michael the video of the attack. According to court documents, he reportedly confessed once he saw himself on screen. At first, the charges were aggravated assault. Jacob was still alive, technically. He was on life support at Banner University Medical Center, fighting for every breath while his family held prayer vigils outside.
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A Family in Mourning
Jacob Couch was 32. His brother Luke says he had "the biggest heart." The irony is cruel—Jacob and Kristin were in the middle of the worst trip of their lives, heading home to bury their infant son, only for Jacob to be taken out by a stranger.
On April 18, 2025, Jacob died from his injuries.
The moment he passed, the legal landscape shifted. The Pima County Attorney’s Office upgraded the charges against Daniel Michael to first-degree murder. During the initial hearings, Michael’s defense team tried to float the idea of self-defense. They wanted a lower bond.
The judge wasn't having it. Neither was the family.
"My brother was attacked from behind while he was bent over," Luke Couch told reporters. "That is not self-defense."
Where the Case Stands Now
Daniel Michael was indicted by a grand jury and held on a $1 million cash bond. This wasn't some "crime of passion" or a robbery gone wrong. Prosecutors are looking at this as a pre-meditated or at least a shockingly unprovoked act of extreme violence.
The evidence is pretty damning:
- Clear surveillance video of the entire incident.
- The murder weapon recovered from the suspect's residence.
- The suspect's own statements to detectives after his arrest.
The Tucson community has been shaken by this. It’s raised a lot of questions about safety at transit hubs and how we handle agitated individuals in public spaces. Honestly, it’s a tragedy that didn't have to happen.
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Safety and Awareness for Travelers
While you can't predict a random attack, there are things experts suggest when navigating unfamiliar public transit areas:
- Trust your gut: If someone seems "off" or overly agitated, leave the area immediately rather than engaging.
- Stay situational: Avoid using headphones or staring at your phone in high-traffic or isolated transit stops.
- Report erratic behavior: If you see someone wielding a weapon or acting threateningly, notify transit police or call 911 before a confrontation occurs.
- Keep your back to a wall: When waiting in public, try to position yourself so you have a full view of the space around you.
The legal process for Daniel Michael is ongoing in Pima County. For those following the case, the focus now remains on the upcoming trial dates and the pursuit of what the Couch family calls "swift justice."
To stay updated on the legal proceedings or to support the Couch family, you can monitor the Pima County Superior Court dockets or look for the verified GoFundMe page set up by the family to cover the immense medical and funeral expenses incurred during this ordeal.