11-Year-Old Pennsylvania Boy Charged with Murder of His Father

This week, an 11-year-old boy from Pennsylvania has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his father. Reports indicate that the boy confided in his mother shortly after the incident, saying, “I killed my dad,” and claimed the motive was his parents taking away his Nintendo Switch.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the shooting occurred early in the morning on January 13, 2026, at a home on South Market Street in Duncannon, Perry County. Authorities were called to the residence just after 3:20 a.m. regarding an unresponsive man. Upon arrival, they discovered 42-year-old Douglas Dietz dead from a gunshot wound to his head, found lying in bed with his wife.

His wife reported that she was disturbed by a loud noise while sleeping and noticed an unusual smell, similar to fireworks. When she tried to wake her husband, he didn’t respond. Initially, she thought it was water dripping, but when she turned on the light, she realized it was blood.

Later, the couple’s son, Clayton, entered the bedroom and exclaimed that his father was dead. A state trooper on the scene heard Clayton tell his mother, “I killed my dad.” Douglas had adopted Clayton in 2018.

The case is particularly disturbing because it took place on the boy’s birthday. According to court documents, the family had celebrated Clayton’s birthday by singing before heading to bed shortly after midnight. Investigators learned that Clayton had enjoyed the day with his parents but became upset when his father insisted it was bedtime.

During police questioning, Clayton admitted to shooting his father and stated he had intended to target him specifically. He explained that he found the key to a gun safe in a drawer and accessed the safe to retrieve a gun after his Nintendo Switch was taken away by his parents.

The affidavit reveals that Clayton took the gun, loaded it, and approached his father’s side of the bed. He said he pulled the hammer back and fired while his father was asleep. When asked about his thoughts before firing, Clayton admitted he was angry and didn’t consider the consequences of his actions.

Following the investigation, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Clayton and charged him with murder. He has been denied bail and is currently being held at the Perry County Jail. A public hearing is set for January 22, 2026.