Stepdad wanting to 'look cool' shot 8-year-old son dead with 9 mm pistol while showing off his guns in middle of the night

A antheral successful Wisconsin has admitted to killing his 8-year-old stepson portion showing disconnected his guns to him — telling cops afterward that helium was attempting to "look cool," according to section officials.

Steven Merkel, 53, of Lake Geneva, entered a blameworthy plea Wednesday for first-degree reckless homicide successful transportation to the decease of his stepson Michael Meagher astatine a residence connected Lincoln Drive successful Walworth County connected Jan. 20, according to the Town of Geneva Police Department and Walworth County District Attorney's Office.

"Merkel claimed the shooting was an mishap aft constabulary recovered Michael Meagher fatally wounded wrong Merkel's home," said Geneva municipality supervisor Scott Williams successful a statement posted to Facebook aft Merkel pleaded blameworthy successful Walworth County Circuit Court.

Town of Geneva constabulary officers and occurrence unit responded to the location astatine astir 2:25 a.m. and recovered Michael suffering from a azygous gunshot wound, according to a Jan. 20 press release. "Life redeeming measures" were performed but the lad succumbed to his injuries astatine a section hospital.

When officers questioned Merkel astir what happened, helium "seemed frantic and was covered successful blood," according to the transgression ailment obtained by Milwaukee Fox affiliate WITI.

Merkel aboriginal told cops that "he did thing stupid, and it wasn't (Meagher's) fault" that helium got shot. When constabulary asked him wherefore helium was showing Michael the guns, Merkel told them "because it made the suspect look cool," the ailment stated.

Merkel claimed helium took the mag retired of the 9 mm handgun that killed Michael and was nether the content that it wouldn't occurrence without it, per police.

"He walked retired of the chamber and pointed the weapon astatine (Meagher)," the ailment said, according to WITI. "The suspect stated that the suspect pulled the trigger and was expecting it to click, but alternatively it went 'boom,' shooting (Meagher)."

Merkel admitted to cops that helium had pulled retired his handgun to amusement Meagher earlier successful the past — adjacent pointing it down toward him portion ordering him to listen, the ailment alleged. Cops said helium "drank 2 small drinks of rum and RC that evening" earlier the shooting.

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A GoFundMe was launched for Michael's household by 1 of his friends' parents, which described the incidental arsenic a "very traumatic accident," per the description.

"Michael was 8 years aged & a agleam comic boy!" the statement said. "My lad loved his friend."

Merkel is scheduled to beryllium sentenced connected Nov. 20.