TAMAQUA - A 58-year-old Tamaqua man was jailed Sunday charged with trying to kill another man about 8 p.m. Saturday at a home at 114 Reynolds Road in Walker Township.
State police Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station charged John E. Clause, 80 Reynolds Road, Tamaqua, with one felony count of attempted criminal homicide, two felony counts of aggravated assault and one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.
Clause was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail.
Lizewski said the incident unfolded when Clause, who had been with three other people, left with a Smith and Wesson Highway Patrolman 357 handgun and drove to the home of the victim, Mark Scheitrum, 27.
Lizewski said Clause opened the door and hollered to Scheitrum. Clause then went into the building, walked down the hallway and found Scheitrum in the bathroom.
Clause, according to authorities, struck Scheitrum in the head and then drew the weapon from a holster and during a struggle between the two the weapon discharged, hitting Scheitrum in the face, causing "life threatening injuries," according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Scheitrum fled the scene on foot but was located and flown by helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest by MedEvac.
According to the affidavit, Clause left the scene and returned to his home. Later, he told Scheitrum's father, Kevin, that he should call 911 because he just shot his son.
About 12:55 a.m. Sunday, Lizewski said, he interviewed Clause who admitted he met Scheitrum, an argument ensued and during the argument the weapon went off and struck Scheitrum.
This version has been corrected from an earlier version.