A quiet community in Pennsylvania has been rocked by a shocking case of alleged patricide, after an eleven-year-old boy was charged with criminal homicide for shooting his father dead. Authorities state the fatal incident was triggered when the child became angry after his Nintendo Switch gaming console was taken away.
A Birthday Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The shooting occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, just after 3am, inside a family home on South Market Street in Duncannon Borough, near Harrisburg. The victim was identified as 42-year-old Douglas Dietz, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators revealed the family had celebrated the boy's birthday shortly before midnight, singing 'Happy Birthday' to him before retiring to bed.
According to a criminal affidavit viewed by local media, the boy, Clayton Dietz, told police he had enjoyed a good day with his parents but grew angry when his father said it was time to sleep. The child's frustration centred on his Nintendo Switch being confiscated. Court documents state he explicitly told investigators, 'I shot somebody,' and admitted he had targeted his father.
The Disturbing Sequence of Events
Pennsylvania State Police allege the boy located a key to a bedroom safe inside his father's drawer. While ostensibly searching for his gaming console, he unlocked the safe, removed a firearm, and loaded it with ammunition. He then walked to his father's side of the bed where Douglas Dietz lay sleeping.
The affidavit states the boy pulled back the hammer and fired a single round into his father's head. When questioned by troopers about what he thought would happen after pulling the trigger, the child reportedly said he was angry and 'had not thought about that.'
The boy's mother, Jillian Dietz, told police a loud noise jolted her awake. She initially thought she smelled fireworks and, when unable to rouse her husband, noticed a sound like dripping water. Turning on the light, she discovered it was blood. Moments later, her son entered the room and shouted, 'Daddy's dead.' Troopers later reported hearing the boy tell his mother, 'I killed Daddy.'
Community Shock and Legal Proceedings
The boy was taken into custody by State Police and charged with criminal homicide. He was denied bail and is being held at Perry County Prison, with a court hearing scheduled for the coming Thursday. Authorities noted in court records that Douglas and Jillian Dietz had adopted the boy in 2018.
Neighbours expressed profound shock, describing the family as quiet and kind. Lifelong Duncannon resident Jesse Weldon said, 'They're very kind. I mean, I didn't talk to them much. They kept to themselves over there and just seemed pretty nice.' The Susquenita School District acknowledged the tragedy's impact on the close-knit community, offering counselling support to students.
A GiveSendGo fundraising page has been established to support Jillian Dietz following her husband's death. The case has sent ripples through the local area, raising difficult questions about juvenile crime, firearm access, and family dynamics.
