11-Year-Old Boy Kills His Father with Gun Following Dispute Over Video Game

by Ahmed Hassan January 19, 2026

written by Ahmed Hassan January 19, 2026

Key Takeaways

Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark

An 11-year-old boy in Perry County, Pennsylvania has been charged with homicide for fatally shooting his father over an argument about a video game and being told to go to bed.
The Nintendo Switch console was stored in the familys safe and the key to the gun safe was found in a drawer by the boy, who used it to access both items.
Under Pennsylvania law, certain crimes committed by minors, including homicide, are automatically tried in adult court.
Clayton Dietz is currently held in Perry County prison without bail and has a hearing scheduled for Thursday. He was adopted by his parents in 2018.

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An 11-year-old boy in Perry County, Pennsylvania, has been accused of fatally shooting his father on the night of Tuesday the 13th, at approximately 3:20 AM. The incident reportedly followed the confiscation of a video game, which, along with being told it was time for bed, allegedly provoked the boy. Douglas Dietz, 42, was shot in the head while sleeping next to his wife in their Duncannon, Pennsylvania, home. WGAL News 8 obtained court documents indicating that the woman awoke to a loud noise and a smell similar to fireworks. Finding that her husband was unresponsive, she realized he had been shot. She stated she did not know where the key to the gun safe was hidden. According to those court documents, Clayton Dietz then entered the room, shouting, “Dad is dead,” and confessed to his mother that he had shot his father. The crime occurred on Clayton’s birthday, shortly after his parents had sung “Happy Birthday” and gone to sleep.

Angry Adopted Boy, 11, Charged with Homicide after Fatal Shooting of Father over Nintendo Switch

Clayton’s parents had reportedly stored their Nintendo Switch console in the family safe. He told investigators he found the key to his father’s gun safe in a drawer, opened it to retrieve the Nintendo Switch, removed the gun, and loaded it with bullets. When questioned about the shooting, Clayton admitted he was angry and did not consider the consequences of his actions. Clayton Dietz was arrested and is currently held in Perry County prison without bail. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday. He had been adopted by the couple in 2018. Under Pennsylvania law (Article 6302 of the State’s Consolidated Law), certain crimes committed by minors, including homicide, voluntary manslaughter, and attempts thereof, are automatically tried in adult court. This report is based on information from DCM, ABC, and WGAL News 8.