Father Arrested In Shooting Of 17-Year-Old Son: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man has been arrested in connection with the accidental shooting of his 17-year-old son while he was showing him a gun, according to police.

Police responded to Forest Avenue around 3 p.m. on Aug. 12 on the report of a 17-year-old who had been shot. The 17-year-old was flown by LifeStar to a trauma center with a serious gunshot wound to the chest, according to police.

Police said an investigation found that the 17-year-old was unintentionally shot by his father who was “unsafely demonstrating the handling of a firearm” to the teen.

The father, Justin Mergel, was cooperative with police and turned himself in on a warrant on Friday, according to police.

Police said the 17-year-old is recovering after the incident.

Mergel was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was held in lieu of a $75,000 bond.

“This tragic incident could likely have been avoided if basic firearm safety rules had been followed,” police wrote in a news release. “The Meriden Police Department reminds everyone to: Treat all guns as though they are loaded when handling them. Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. As a reminder, the Meriden Police Department has gun locks available to enhance gun safety if needed. The free locks are at the front desk of the police department and can be provided upon request.”