A man who police said shot his brother with an assault rifle during an argument over a toothbrush was charged yesterday with attempted murder, Baltimore County police said.
Jeffrey Van Moretz, 34, of the 5400 block of Forge Road was
being held yesterday at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail. He also is charged with first-degree assault.
His brother, Thomas William Moretz, 41, of the same address, was in critical condition yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
According to police, the older brother was angry with his younger brother about his missing toothbrush about 8: 30 p.m. Wednesday.
The younger Moretz told police he locked himself in his bedroom and put a chair under the door knob when his brother began banging on the door and threating to shoot him if he did not get his toothbrush back.
Police said the younger Moretz told them he feared for his life and shot his brother after his brother kicked down the bedroom door.
According to police, the only gun found in the house was the semiautomatic assault rifle they said was used in the shooting.
Pub Date: 6/13/97
