A Wisconsin man who shot his stepson while showing off his gun collection was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Steven Merkel, 53, had pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in the Jan. 20 shooting death of his 8-year-old stepson, Michael Meagher.
Fox 6 reported that Merkel told police that he was showing Meagher his guns "because it made the defendant look cool." According to the station, at one point, Merkel took the magazine out of a 9mm and believed the gun would not fire with the magazine removed.
Fox 6 reported that he told authorities that he "he walked out of the bedroom and pointed the gun at (Meagher). The defendant stated that the defendant pulled the trigger and was expecting it to click, but instead it went 'boom,' shooting (Meagher)."
When officers arrived on the scene, they described Merkel as being frantic and covered in blood, Fox 6 reported. He directed officers to Meagher who was lying on the floor.
After the shooting, Merkel initially called the boy's grandmother who told him to call 911. Fox 6 reported that Merkel also told authorities that he had "drank two little drinks of rum and RC that evening."
