Family of hatchet attack victim speaks out

TUCSON, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA/KECY) - A Tucson man is being held on a $1 million bond in connection with a downtown hatchet attack earlier this month.

It was at a bus bench on the corner of Sixth and Broadway where Tucson police say Jacob Couch was attacked by a man with a hatchet. Now, his family is speaking out.

"It was very traumatic and there was a lot of blood," said Kristen Couch, the victim's wife.

After spending around 10 months in Los Angeles, Kristen and Jacob Couch, a married couple of 11 years, were on their way back to their hometown in Alabama until the unthinkable happened.

"I can't remember the last time. There's just been, a baseless, like, a senseless crime like this," Kristen shared.

As they were waiting for the next bus in Tucson, Kristen says an unknown man started yelling at them.

"I told the man, 'We're leaving,' and my husband bent down to, I guess, like get our stuff and he just came up behind him. And just [hit my husband with the hatchet] and walked away," Kristen spoke.

A hit to the back of her husband's neck with a hatchet, Kristen says it severed his artery, leaving him on life support.

"It hurts knowing that I couldn't be there to protect him because he protected me for my whole life," said Luke Couch, the victim's brother.

Three days after the attack officers found the suspect. 25-year-old Daniel Michael is charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument and causing serious physical injury, according to the probable cause statement.

Now, both Jacob Couch's wife and younger brother are hoping to bring light to who he was.

"He was such a sweet soul. Such a good brother. Such a good father, and such a good husband. He didn't deserve this," Luke expressed.

They say they hope a crime like this never happens again.

"You don't go downtown at 10 a.m. with a hatchet and attack somebody, or you don't go down there with a hatchet and not go to cause trouble," Luke said.

"I just want people to remember how kind he was and they are sure that this was senseless," Kristen expressed.

"I just don't want this man to walk free for something like this," Luke declared.

Michael has his first court hearing coming up later this month.

A GoFundMe was set up to help the Couch family, where it raised at least $15,000. If you would like to help them, click here.