Incident

1-20-2025 Wisconsin Geneva 1-1

Location

January 20, 2025

W3895 Lincoln Dr
Geneva, Wisconsin

Participants

  • Type: Victim
  • Name: Michael Meagher
  • Age: 8
  • Age Group: Child 0-11
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Killed
  • Type: Subject-Suspect
  • Relationship: Family
  • Name: Steven Merkel Jr.
  • Age: 52
  • Age Group: Adult 18+
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Unharmed, Arrested

Incident Characteristics

  • Shot - Dead (murder, accidental, or suicide)
  • Accidental Shooting
  • Accidental Shooting - Death
  • Accidental/Negligent Discharge
  • Thought gun was unloaded
  • Playing with gun
  • Child Involved Incident
  • Child killed (not child shooter)
  • Under the influence of alcohol or drugs (only applies to the subject/suspect/perpetrator )
  • Possession of gun by felon or prohibited person

Notes

man killed young stepson; occurred at shooter's residence near Lake Como; Walworth County; charged w first degree reckless homicide; suspect told police he was inebriated and trying to show off gun to child

Guns Involved

1 gun involved.

  • Type: Handgun

District

Congressional District: 1
State Senate District: 11
State House District: 31