An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy faces criminal homicide charges after fatally shooting his father this week. According to law enforcement officials, the boy told his mother “I killed my father” after the killing, which was reportedly motivated by his parents taking his Nintendo Switch.
News and news 8 Reports Pennsylvania State Police have arrested and charged an 11-year-old boy with criminal homicide after his father was shot and killed in the early morning hours of January 13, 2026. The incident occurred at a home on South Market Street in Duncannon Borough, Perry County.
Officers responded to the home around 3:20 a.m. after receiving a call about an unresponsive man. Upon arrival, they discovered that Douglas Dietz, 42, had died from gunshot wounds to the head. The victim was found in his bed in the bedroom he shared with his wife, where he appeared to have been shot while sleeping.
According to an affidavit obtained by local media, Douglas Dietz’s wife stated that she was asleep when she was awakened by a loud noise. I noticed a fireworks-like smell in the air. When she tried to wake her husband by poking him, he did not respond. At first, she heard what sounded like water dripping, but when she turned on the bedroom light, she discovered it was blood.
Then the couple’s 11-year-old son, Clayton Dietz, entered the bedroom and screamed that his father was dead. State troopers at the scene reported that they heard Clayton tell his mother, “I killed my father.” Court records indicate that Douglas and his wife adopted Clayton in 2018.
The murder is even more shocking because it happened on the boy’s birthday. According to court documents, the couple had gone to bed shortly after midnight, having just sung Happy Birthday to Clayton. When investigators interviewed the 11-year-old, he stated that he had enjoyed a good day with his parents. But the documents indicate that when his father told him it was time for bed, he became angry.
During police questioning, Clayton admitted to shooting someone and identified his father as the intended target. He told investigators he had a specific person in mind when he decided to use the firearm.
The wife told police that there was a weapons safe in the bedroom, but she claimed that she did not know where the key was kept. Clayton told investigators he found the key in his father’s drawer. According to his statement, he opened the safe while trying to locate his Nintendo Switch game console, which his parents had previously confiscated as a disciplinary measure.
The affidavit states that Clayton admitted to taking the gun out of the safe, loading bullets into the weapon, and walking to his father’s side of the bed. He stated that he pulled the hammer and shot his father while he was sleeping. When investigators asked Clayton what he thought would happen when he opened fire, he responded that he was angry and did not think about the consequences of his actions.
After an investigation, Pennsylvania State Police took Clayton into custody and formally charged him with criminal homicide. He was denied bail and is currently being held in the Perry County Jail. A hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2026.
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