1Walworth, WI – A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting his eight-year-old stepson, Michael Meagher, while demonstrating firearms. The incident occurred in January at their residence in Walworth County.

Steven Merkel, now 53, entered a guilty plea for first-degree reckless homicide in August. During sentencing on Thursday, Walworth County Circuit Court Judge Kristine E. Drettwan questioned Merkel’s actions, expressing outrage over his desire to look “cool” to the boy.

The shooting unfolded around 2:25 a.m., with officers arriving to find Meagher suffering from a gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the child later died at the hospital.

Merkel claimed the incident was accidental. He told police he had removed the magazine from the handgun and though

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