Wisconsin (DDN) – A Wisconsin man attempting to “look cool” while showing off his guns to his 8-year-old stepson tragically shot and killed the boy, authorities say.
Steven Merkel, 52, of Lake Geneva, faces a charge of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Michael Meagher, according to the Town of Geneva Police Department and the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident occurred early Monday at a residence on Lincoln Drive. Police were alerted to the shooting at approximately 2:25 a.m. and arrived to find the boy suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, Meagher was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, officials said.
Merkel, described as “frantic and covered in blood” when police arrived, allegedly admitted to making a mistake. “I did something stupid,” he reportedly told officers, emphasizing that the shooting was not Meagher’s fault.
According to the criminal complaint, Merkel was showing the boy a 9 mm handgun, claiming it made him “look cool.” He believed the weapon would not fire after removing the magazine but admitted he was mistaken.
“He walked out of the bedroom and pointed the gun at (Meagher),” the complaint states. “The defendant pulled the trigger, expecting it to click, but instead, it went ‘boom,’ shooting (Meagher).”
Merkel also admitted to showing the gun to Meagher on previous occasions, at times pointing it toward the boy while instructing him to listen. Authorities noted that Merkel had consumed “two little drinks of rum and RC” that evening before the shooting.
A GoFundMe campaign launched by a family friend described the incident as a “very traumatic accident” and remembered Meagher as a “bright, funny boy.” The description added, “Michael was 8 years old. My son loved his friend (Meagher).”
Merkel is being held on a $250,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday after an initial hearing was postponed.
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