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.

Steven D. Merkel, 52, of the Lincoln Avenue address, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in Michael Meagher's death.

A 52-year-old Lake Geneva man is in custody for allegedly shooting a 'young male' victim at his residence overnight on January 20,

A 52-year-old Lake Geneva man is in custody for the crime. TOWN OF GENEVA, Wis. - Town of Geneva police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened early Monday, Jan. 20. Officials say just before 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Town of Geneva police officers were dispatched to a residence on Lincoln Avenue for a report of a shooting.

TOWN OF GENEVA, Wis. - A Lake Geneva man has been charged after the shooting death of a boy in Geneva. The Town of Geneva Police Department said 52-year-old Steven Merkel is charged with first-degree reckless homicide.

Police said eight-year-old Michael Meagher died after being shot by a handgun at a home on Lincoln Avenue near Lake Geneva. He was a second grader at Brook Park Elementary School in LaGrange Park.

Early Monday morning, Town of Geneva police officers were called to Lincoln Drive near Lake Como for a 9-year-old boy who had been shot. First responders treated him at the scene and took him to the hospital.