A tragic incident unfolded in Wisconsin when a man, attempting to impress his 8-year-old stepson with his firearms, accidentally shot and killed the child. The man, identified as 52-year-old Steven Merkel of Lake Geneva, later confessed to the police that he had made a grave mistake.
Merkel is now facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide in relation to the death of his stepson, Michael Meagher. The incident occurred at a residence on Lincoln Drive early Monday morning, as reported by the Town of Geneva Police Department and Walworth County District Attorney’s Office. The District Attorney’s office reviewed the case and charges were filed later that day.
Upon their arrival at the scene, local police and fire personnel found the young boy with gunshot wounds. Despite their best efforts to save him, Meagher was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Merkel, who was found at the scene covered in blood, appeared to be in a state of panic, according to the criminal complaint.
Merkel confessed to the police that he had made a terrible mistake and that it was not the child’s fault. He admitted to showing off his guns to Meagher in an attempt to appear “cool”. He also claimed that he had removed the magazine from the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting, believing that it would not fire without it.
According to the complaint, Merkel walked out of a bedroom and pointed the gun at Meagher, expecting it to merely click when he pulled the trigger. Instead, the gun fired, fatally wounding the young boy. Merkel also admitted to having shown his handgun to Meagher on previous occasions, even pointing it at him to command his attention. He confessed to having consumed a small amount of alcohol prior to the incident.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by a friend’s parents to support Meagher’s family, describing the incident as a “very traumatic accident”. The campaign highlights Meagher’s vibrant personality, describing him as a “bright funny boy”. Meanwhile, Merkel is currently being held on a cash bond of $250,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.