Nearly three and a half years after Michael Garr was fatally stabbed while walking through Drexel Hill, the case has reached a Delaware County courtroom.
Garr, a 15-year-old sophomore at Upper Darby High School, was killed on April 21, 2023. Prosecutors told jurors Tuesday that the teenager had no known connection to the man accused of attacking him and described the killing as an unprovoked act of violence.
The first-degree murder trial opened with emotional testimony, including the 911 call made by Ian Coughlan, a driver who stopped after Garr ran toward his vehicle seeking help.
Coughlan testified that Garr was struggling to speak and was holding his neck. According to his testimony, the teenager managed to tell him, “He stabbed me.”
The 911 recording played in court captured Coughlan trying to keep the teenager conscious while waiting for emergency responders.
Garr later went into cardiac arrest and died.
Prosecutors Outline Evidence Against Weh
During opening statements, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse presented the jury with evidence prosecutors say connects Weh to the killing.
Investigators reviewed extensive surveillance footage that prosecutors say showed Weh following Garr before the attack. The footage was also used to help identify Weh, according to testimony presented Tuesday.
Prosecutors said investigators later found clothing and other evidence that matched what had been seen in the surveillance video.
A knife recovered from Weh’s backpack was also presented as evidence. Prosecutors said the weapon appeared to have been cleaned, but investigators found dried blood beneath the handle after separating it from the blade. The blood was identified as Garr’s, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors also pointed to a dried bloodstain on thermal clothing associated with Weh that they said contained Garr’s DNA.
The evidence, prosecutors argued, showed a connection between Weh and the teenager despite the two having no known relationship.
Witness Describes Garr’s Final Moments
For Coughlan, Tuesday’s testimony brought back the moments when he encountered Garr on the road.
He said he was driving home when the teenager approached his vehicle in obvious distress. Coughlan got out and tried to help him while emergency crews were being called.
The 911 recording became one of the most emotional moments of the day as Coughlan could be heard encouraging Garr to stay with him.
Coughlan later said he still thinks about the teenager and was grateful Garr was not alone during his final moments.
“He wasn’t there by himself,” Coughlan said, describing his decision to stop and help.
Family Has Waited Years for Trial
Garr’s family members were also in court as the proceedings began.
His father, Michael Garr, described the years since his son’s death as extremely difficult.
Family friends remembered Michael as a kind and well-liked teenager whose death left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
The killing also shook the Drexel Hill community, where Garr had lived and attended school.
Defense Urges Jury to Wait for Full Evidence
Weh’s defense attorney asked jurors not to reach a conclusion based solely on the prosecution’s opening presentation.
The defense emphasized that the allegations against Weh still have to be proven in court and urged jurors to consider all of the evidence before making a decision.
Weh has pleaded not guilty.
The trial is expected to continue through the week, with additional testimony and evidence expected before the jury considers the case.
For Garr’s family, the proceedings mark a long-awaited step in a case that began with the death of a 15-year-old student walking through his own community.
The courtroom testimony is now focused on answering what happened that night in April 2023 and whether the evidence presented by prosecutors proves the charges against Weh beyond a reasonable doubt.
