11-Year-Old Boy Kills His Father After Nintendo Switch Is Taken Away
Posted on 01/20/26 at 11:43
- 11-Year-Old Child Charged With Homicide
- Father Died From Gunshot Wound
- Case Shakes Community
The Pennsylvania State Police filed criminal homicide charges against an 11-year-old boy in connection with the death of his father in Perry County.
The incident occurred in Duncannon Borough during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 13, according to court documents obtained by WGAL News 8.
Authorities confirmed that the minor remains in custody without bail, pending a court hearing.
What Happened Inside the Home?
‘I killed Daddy’: Pennsylvania boy, 11, shoots dad after Nintendo Switch taken away, courts docs say https://t.co/OZlzpwCrgG
— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) January 18, 2026
Troopers responded to a call reporting an “unconscious man” around 3:20 a.m. at a home on South Market Street.
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Inside the residence, they found Douglas Dietz, 42, dead from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the documents.
Douglas was found in his bed, inside the bedroom he shared with his wife, according to the affidavit.
11-Year-Old Charged With Homicide
‼️#BREAKING: 11-Year-Old Boy Sh**ts Sleeping Dad Dead Over Confiscated Nintendo Switch — Confesses «I K*lled Daddy» on His Own Birthday
📍#Pennsylvania
Clayton Dietz, just turned 11, got mad after dad Douglas Dietz took his Nintendo Switch & told him bedtime. Kid hunts for… pic.twitter.com/bDqTj2wMf3
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) January 17, 2026
Investigators said that bedroom was connected to the child’s room through a shared closet.
Douglas Dietz’s wife told police she was asleep when a loud noise suddenly woke her.
She said she noticed a smell similar to fireworks after hearing the sound.
She tried to push her husband but realized he was not responding, according to her statement.
She then heard what she believed was water dripping inside the bedroom.
When she turned on the light, she realized it was blood, according to court records.
Shortly after, the boy entered the bedroom screaming that his father was dead, troopers said.
The Child’s Confession
Police identified the victim’s 11-year-old son, Clayton Dietz, as the suspect.
Troopers said they heard the child tell his mother, “I killed Daddy.”
According to court documents, Clayton stated that he had had a good day with his parents.
However, he became angry when his father told him it was time to go to bed, investigators said.
The incident occurred on the same day as his birthday, according to state police.
The parents had gone to bed shortly after midnight after singing “Happy Birthday” to the child.
All Over a Nintendo Switch
An 11-year-old has been charged as an adult for k*lling his father in his sleep after the father took away his Nintendo Switch gaming console. The boy reportedly said, “I k*lled Daddy.” 😳💔🕊️ pic.twitter.com/UtEh9nMBDf
— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) January 17, 2026
When investigators asked what had happened, Clayton Dietz responded, “I shot someone.”
According to the affidavit, he admitted that he intended to shoot his father.
The child explained that he found the key to a gun safe in his father’s drawer.
The wife said she knew about the safe but did not know where the key was kept.
Clayton said he opened the safe looking for his Nintendo Switch, which had been taken away earlier.
According to the documents, he removed the gun, loaded the bullets, and walked to his father’s bed.
He then cocked the firing mechanism and shot him, according to his statement to police.
When asked what he thought would happen, he said he was angry and did not think about it.
Reactions and Judicial Process
Authorities stated that Clayton Dietz was adopted by Douglas and his wife in 2018.
The boy was arrested and formally charged with criminal homicide, state police said.
He was denied bail and placed in the Perry County Prison.
He is scheduled to appear at a court hearing on Thursday, January 22.
A neighbor interviewed by WGAL News 8 said he was shocked by what happened.
Jesse Weldon, a longtime resident of Duncannon, said he never expected something like this in his community.
He said the family seemed kind and reserved, and that he had little interaction with them.
Weldon lives down the street and was outside during the police investigation.
He commented that the area used to be a closer-knit community, but that has changed.
The Susquenita School District issued a statement expressing solidarity with the community.
The message was released Wednesday afternoon after details of the shooting became public.
