A Lake Geneva man charged with reckless homicide in the death of an 8-year-old boy this week was reportedly playing with a handgun. Steven Merkel, 52, was trying to look cool in front of Michael Meagher when he ended up doing something stupid.

TOWN OF GENEVA, Wis. - A Lake Geneva man has been charged after the shooting death of a boy in Geneva. The Town of Geneva Police Department said 52-year-old Steven Merkel is charged with first-degree reckless homicide.

Police said eight-year-old Michael Meagher died after being shot by a handgun at a home on Lincoln Avenue near Lake Geneva. He was a second grader at Brook Park Elementary School in LaGrange Park.

Steven D. Merkel, 52, of the Lincoln Avenue address, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in Michael Meagher's death.

Early Monday morning, Town of Geneva police officers were called to Lincoln Drive near Lake Como for a 9-year-old boy who had been shot. First responders treated him at the scene and took him to the hospital.