Stepdad shot in laundry feud

A West Philadelphia teenager allegedly pumped several bullets into his stepdad yesterday morning, and investigators said the shooting was preceded by an argument over laundry.

Arlen Briddell, 18, stopped by his mother's home, on Broomall Street near 55th, hoping to do some laundry about 9 a.m., police said.

Briddell's stepfather, local hospital worker William Green, had asked Briddell to move out around Christmas and stuck to his word, declining the laundry request, police said.

But Briddell screamed, "If you don't get out of my way, you won't make it to work tonight!" and then chased his stepdad into a bedroom, police said.

The teen then shot Green, 29, in the hand, foot, leg and chest, and ran off, police said. Green was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where family said he was recovering from emergency surgery last night.

"It is crazy," said Detective Matt Farley. "Something as trivial as laundry would get someone shot by their stepson."

Briddell's mother, Green's wife, answered the door of the family's home yesterday afternoon and offered little explanation for the odd turn of events .

She said that her husband had put her son out some time ago and that her son returned yesterday just to clean his clothes.

"It is shocking," she said, standing in the doorway. She declined to give her name.

Crime is no stranger to the Briddell family. A brother, Aaron Briddell, 17, is incarcerated on carjacking and assault charges, said a police source.

Arlen Briddell has been charged with attempted murder and related crimes, police said, although he was at large last night.

Briddell was described as black, about 6 feet 1 and 155 pounds, with close-cropped hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-blue hoodie and blue jeans.

Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to call Southwest Detectives at 215-686-3183. *