A man suffered life-threatening injuries after he was shot on Tuesday night in Newton, authorities said.

Dennis Scott Willis shot his half brother Christopher Lee Hayes about 6:40 p.m. at 4355 Plateau Road in Newton, Capt. Roy Brown with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Department, said.

Brown said the shooting was instigated by a verbal argument between the brothers.  He was not sure what the men were arguing about.  He said Willis shot Hayes once in the abdomen with a .380 caliber pistol.

When deputies arrived about 7 p.m. Hayes was in serious condition and taken to the hospital.

Willis was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

He is being held at the Catawba County Detention Facility without bond. His first appearance in court will be on Thursday.