Man accused of murdering stepson allegedly showed him gun because he wanted to ‘look cool’: complaint

A Wisconsin man was arrested after authorities said he was fatally shot shot the stepson allegedly admitted to showing the boy the gun before the shooting, which he said was accidental.

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

Although the police did not identify the boy, he was named in GoFundMe campaign created by loved ones to help defray funeral expenses. (Fundraisers previously reported the boy as 9 years old, but have since been updated to show he is 8.)

According to a police release, officers were called to a home in Lake Geneva, Wis., after a report of a shooting around 2:25 a.m. on Monday, January 20. The boy was shot and taken to a local hospital where he died, police said.

According to the received statement about the commission of a criminal offense Fox 6police at the scene said Merkel “seemed frantic and was covered in blood.” In an interview with detectives later that day, Merkel allegedly admitted to shooting the boy and said he showed him the gun because he wanted to “look cool,” the complaint states.

The complaint also states that Merkel allegedly told the detective that when he shot the boy with the 9mm handgun, he did not expect him to fire because he thought he had removed the magazine, the newspaper reported. Merkel claimed that’s when he called 911.

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

Want to keep up with the latest crime news? Subscribe to Free PEOPLE True Crime Newsletter for breaking crime news, coverage of ongoing trials and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The boy was a second-grader at Brook Park Elementary School in LaGrange Park, Illinois, the school district confirmed in a statement sent to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden death of second grader Michael Meagher,” the Brookfield LaGrange Park District 95 said in a statement.

“Michael brought an amazing energy to Brook Park Primary School, where he was known for his incredible kindness and was loved by all. The entire school community mourns his loss.

“In the coming weeks and months we will be celebrating Michael’s life. We are now focused on supporting the Meagher family and our school community in any way we can during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.

Read the original article at People