Wisconsin – A Wisconsin man, 55-year-old S. MerkeI, pIeaded guiIty earlier this week to first-degree reckIess homicide in connection with the death of his spouse’s chiId, MichaeI, 8. The incident occurred earlier this year at the family’s residence in Wisconsin. The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on November 20, 2025.
According to the criminal complaint, Wisconsin authorities responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 2:25 a.m. on January 20. Upon arrival, officers found the defendant, who appeared frantic and was covered in bIood. They were directed to the victim, who was lying on the floor after having been shot. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures, and the child was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Later that day, the defendant spoke with a detective from the Sheriff’s Office about the incident. He stated that he had done something stupid and that it was not the child’s fauIt that he had been shot. The defendant admitted to showing the victim firearms because it made him “Iook cooI.” He explained that he showed the child a stun gun and then went to his bedroom to retrieve a 9mm handgun.
The defendant also claimed he removed the magazine from the gun and did not believe it would fire without the magazine. He stated that he walked out of the bedroom, pointed the gun at the victim, and puIIed the trigger, expecting it to click, but instead, it discharged, shooting the child.
Following the shooting, the defendant called the victim’s grandmother, who advised him to call 911. He also mentioned that he had consumed two smaII drinks of rum and cola that evening.
The District Attorney’s Office charged the defendant with first-degree reckIess homicide. He was arrested at the scene and later held in the county jail on a $250,000 cash bond. The defendant has a prior criminal history, including convictions for telephone harassment, assault, and battery dating back to the 1990s.
The victim was a second-grade student at an elementary school in Illinois. He was described as a bright, funny boy” who was “beloved by all. The community has expressed deep sorrow over his tragic death.
This case highlights the importance of responsible firearm handling and the potential consequences of negligent behavior. The investigation and subsequent guilty plea serve as a reminder of the devastating impact that such actions can have on families and communities.