An 11-year-old boy uttered three disturbing words after reportedly shooting his father in response to having his Nintendo games console confiscated.
The victim, Douglas Dietz, 42, was discovered dead with a gunshot wound to the head following the tragic incident in a serene area of Duncannon Borough, Pennsylvania, on a Tuesday morning. The boy, Clayton, now faces charges of homicide.
Based on court records, Mrs. Dietz awoke to a loud noise and a smell resembling fireworks in the bedroom. Soon after, the boy entered the room and exclaimed, “Daddy’s dead.”
Upon the arrival of state troopers, Clayton reportedly confessed to his mother, saying, “I killed Daddy.”
Allegedly, Clayton, who was celebrating his 11th birthday, became furious after his father confiscated his Nintendo Switch a few days earlier. According to legal documents, Jillian, Mr. Dietz’s wife, was in bed next to him and only realized the situation upon turning on the lights and discovering blood on the sheets.
Clayton then entered the room, shouting, while Jillian attempted to perform CPR on Douglas as they awaited emergency services. Unfortunately, Douglas was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
During an interview with the police, Jillian mentioned that the family, who adopted Clayton in 2018, had sung Happy Birthday to him the previous evening. However, the situation escalated when they instructed him to go to bed.
According to the affidavit, the father stored the family firearm in a secured drawer, but Clayton admitted to finding the key, unlocking it, and searching for his Nintendo Switch.
The document stated that Clayton confessed to taking the gun from the safe, loading it with bullets, approaching his father’s side of the bed, pulling back the safety, and firing at him.
The 11-year-old purportedly informed the police that he had not considered the consequences of shooting his father. Clayton was apprehended on the day of the incident and charged with criminal homicide, with a court hearing scheduled for January 22.
Reports from local media revealed that Clayton’s parents had reached out to his school in the months leading up to the event, seeking assistance for their son. Clayton, who has autism, was displaying escalating uncontrollable behaviors, including sexual harassment, physical violence, and theft.
Despite their pleas, the parents were reportedly denied help as Clayton did not meet the necessary criteria. A neighbor interviewed by 6ABC described the Dietz family as friendly and reserved, expressing shock at the tragedy.
The day following the shooting, Susquenita School District in Perry County issued a statement, offering support to students in light of the distressing event.
