Lake Geneva man sentenced in deadly shooting of young boy

A Lake Geneva man was sentenced Thursday in the deadly January shooting of young boy, online court records show.
Published: Nov. 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM CST|Updated: 4 hours ago
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MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - A Lake Geneva man was sentenced Thursday in the deadly January shooting of young boy, online court records show.

A Walworth County judge sentenced Steven Merkel to 25 years in prison.

His sentence will be followed by 10 years of extended supervision.

Merkel, 53, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in late August.

The Town of Geneva Police Department reported officers responded at 2 a.m. on Monday, Jan 20, to the the W3800 block of Lincoln Avenue after a child had been shot.

First responders attempted to save the child’s life, and took him to a local hospital. He later died of his injuries.

WISN previously reported the victim was 8-year-old Michael Meagher. Merkel was the boy’s stepdad.

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