LAKE GENEVA, WIS. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A Lake Geneva man charged with reckless homicide in the death of an 8-year-old boy this week was reportedly playing with a handgun.
Steven Merkel, 52, was trying to look cool in front of Michael Meagher when he ended up doing something stupid.
That’s what he told police, according to court documents reviewed by WGN TV News. Filings in the case said Town of Geneva Police found Merkel frantic and covered in blood when they responded to a home early Monday morning.
Meagher, 8, of west suburban Brookfield and a second-grader at Brook Park Elementary School, had been shot in the neck and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
WGN said, before that Merkel got out a 9mm handgun, took out the magazine and pointed it at his former stepson and fired at the boy not thinking there were any bullets inside.
He’s due in court Monday afternoon.
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