A quiet neighbourhood in Pennsylvania has been rocked by a tragic incident in which an 11-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed his father during a furious argument over a video games console.
A Chilling Discovery in the Bedroom
Douglas Dietz, 42, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in the family home in Duncannon Borough on Tuesday morning. According to court documents, his wife, Jillian, was awoken by a loud noise and the smell of something similar to fireworks. When she turned on the light, she discovered her husband's blood seeping through the bedsheets.
It was at this moment that their son, Clayton, who had just celebrated his 11th birthday, entered the room and uttered the chilling words: "Daddy's dead." State troopers arriving at the scene reported hearing the boy tell his mother, "I killed Daddy." Jillian made desperate attempts to perform CPR on her husband, but he was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance crews.
The Trigger: A Confiscated Console
The horrific event is said to have stemmed from a dispute over a Nintendo Switch. Clayton had reportedly become enraged after his father took the console away several days prior. In an interview with police, Jillian stated that the family had sung 'Happy Birthday' to Clayton the evening before, but the mood turned when his parents told him he needed to go to bed.
The court affidavit reveals that the family gun was kept in a locked drawer. Clayton allegedly told investigators he found the key, unlocked the drawer to look for his Nintendo Switch, and instead took the firearm. He admitted to loading the weapon, walking to his father's side of the bed, pulling back the safety notch, and firing.
The 11-year-old reportedly told police he "had not thought about" what would happen after he shot his father. Clayton was arrested on the day of the killing and has been charged with criminal homicide. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 22.
A Plea for Help Gone Unanswered
The case has taken a further tragic turn with revelations about the family's struggles. Clayton, who is autistic, was adopted by the Dietz family in 2018. Local media reports that in the months leading up to the incident, his parents had sent letters to his school pleading for help, as their son was exhibiting increasingly uncontrollable behaviours.
These behaviours reportedly included incidents of sexual harassment, physical aggression, and theft. The parents are said to have been denied support because Clayton "did not meet the criteria" for the assistance they sought.
A neighbour described the family as "very kind" and said they "kept to themselves," adding, "I didn't expect this." In response to the shooting, the Susquenita School District in Perry County released a statement offering counselling support to students affected by the event in their "close-knit community."
