Boy, 9, shot dead by stepdad in horror scene cop says he 'never wanted to see'

Steven Merkel Jr., 52, was arrested astatine the country and charged with first-degree reckless homicide aft the nine-year-old lad died aft suffering superior gunshot injuries

A nine-year-old lad was reportedly killed by his ain stepfather successful a shocking shooting that near constabulary officers astatine the country shaken.

Police officers from the Lake Geneva Police Department were called to the country of a reported shooting astatine a residence successful the aboriginal hours of Monday morning. According to WSAZ.com, officers astatine the country swiftly arrested Steven Merkel Jr, 52, and charged with first-degree reckless homicide earlier booking him into the Walworth County jail.

Sadly, contempt the champion efforts of exigency aesculapian teams the victim, present identified arsenic Michael Meagher from Wisconsin, died aft being transported to a section hospital. Merkel was the boy’s stepdad and lived astatine the code connected Lincoln Avenue wherever the shooting occurred.

Police person not yet disclosed immoderate further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting, oregon a motive. Geneva Police Chief Anthony Miceli said it was a traumatic country for his officers. “It’s a hard country for immoderate officer; you ne'er privation to spot that,” Miceli said.

READ MORE: NHS apologise aft devastated mum got bosom crab 'whilst connected waiting database for 18 months'

Following his tragic death, relatives of Michael Meagher person travel unneurotic to commencement a GoFundMe to assistance with ceremonial arrangements. The leafage has, astatine the clip of publication, already raised implicit $14,000 truthful far. A connection from a household person connected the leafage reads: "Micheal, My sons champion person passed distant contiguous from a precise traumatic mishap of a gunshot. Our household is heartbroken. I privation to effort to assistance this household successful immoderate mode that I can. Michael was nine-years-old and a agleam comic boy! My lad loved his friend."

The calamity comes aft a stepfather successful Arkansas allegedly murdered his toddler stepson by repeatedly throwing him into a excavation to thatch him however to swim. Dakota Shawn Hays, 20, and his woman Annastacia Atkins, 24, were charged with first-degree murder, according to an apprehension warrant.

Hays was besides charged with endangering the payment of a kid portion Atkins besides faces charges of permitting the maltreatment of a minor, according to situation records held by the Crawford County Sheriff's Office. The 2-year-old lad died connected June 17 past year, 3 days aft Atkins and Hays rang exigency services.