Man Accused of Killing Stepson Allegedly Showed Him Guns Because He Wanted to 'Look Cool': Complaint

Mar. 15, 2025

Michael Meagher.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

A Wisconsin man who was arrested after authorities claim he fatallyshot his stepsonallegedly admitted to showing the boy guns prior to the shooting, which he said was accidental.

Steven D. Merkel Jr., 52, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide in connection with the death of 8-year-old Michael Meagher,Geneva policepreviously said.

Officers were called to a home in Lake Geneva, Wis., on a report of a shooting at around 2:25 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, according to a police release. Police said a boy had been shot and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The complaint further states that Merkel allegedly told a detective that when he shot the boy with the 9mm gun, he wasn’t expecting it to fire since he thought he’d taken out the magazine, according to the outlet. Merkel claimed he then called 911.

Police said Merkel is being held in Walworth County Jail. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

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The boy was a second-grade student at Brook Park Elementary School in La Grange Park, Ill., the school district confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will celebrate Michael’s life. Our focus now is on supporting the Meagher Family and our school community in every possible way during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.

source: people.com