Update:

A man originally charged with battery now faces a charge of felony murder after a bar fight.

The Clark County District Attorney has charged Tyler Meier of Shawano with felony murder.
Prosecutors say Meier punched Keith Young of Neillsville in a bar fight in Neillsville, during which young hit his head and died several days later.

District Attorney Darwin Zwieg says the charge of felony murder means a death happened as a result of a smaller, misdemeanor charge like battery, and now will carry more possible jail time for Meier if convicted.

"I believe in my 30 years as a prosecutor I've not charged felony murder. It's an unusual circumstance,” says Zwieg.

Because Young died of his injuries after being punched by Meier in a bar fight at the Brick Yard on February 1st, Zwieg is raising the charges from battery to felony murder.

"Mr. Young comes over, there is a discussion arguing on the surveillance tape, and it appears by the surveillance tape while Mr. Young has his by his sides. Mr. Meier punches him in the head, he falls to the floor, of course,” describes Zwieg. “It was apparently the fall that caused his death."

In his statements to police, Meier claims he feared for his safety and thought young would strike first, and according to the police report, he "hit him in the jaw...where a man should."

According to statements made to police, Meier says he "cracked him because he grabbed me and you don't touch me."

Meier says he also fell to the ground with Young and that Young was knocked out before he fell.

"The manner of death listed on the provisional autopsy report has indicated homicide,” says Zwieg, saying the impact of the fall probably killed Young.

In a second interview with police, Meier expressed concern for Young, asking if anything was "fractured" and saying that he hopes Young "comes out of it fine."

The police report says Meier knew one of young's friends, Jason Salisbury, who was at the bar that night. Meier claims the fight started after Salisbury accused him of helping police in a drug investigation several years ago.

However, Zwieg says the best witness in this case will be the surveillance video from the bar.

"Many time it's classic because of the anxieties or trauma or how quickly things happen that people who are in the same position see different things or they thought they did. And as the camera is a silent witness, it doesn't deviate,” says Zwieg.

Meier's initial appearance in court is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

If convicted of felony murder, and misdemeanor battery, he faces up to fifteen years and nine months behind bars.

Original Story:

The man accused of punching another man who later died is now charged with felony murder.

Prosecutors upgraded the charge against 36-year-old Tyler Meier of Shawano Monday morning. On Friday, he posted his $20,000 cash bail and was released from the Clark County Jail. Officers say Meier punched 43-year-old Keith Young in the head during a fight.

Neillsville Police Chief Brad Lindner says it happened on February 1 at the Brickyard Tavern. Security cameras caught the fight on tape. It shows Meier and Young talking, and Meier punching Young. Young fell backward and hit his head on the tavern floor. Young died Tuesday at the hospital. Meier is scheduled to be in court on Wednesday.

Watch WEAU 13 News at 5 and 6 for the bar fight video and an update on this case.