At a Glance
- An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy allegedly shot and killed his father after the man took away the child’s Nintendo Switch.
- The boy told police he unlocked a safe looking for the game console, found a revolver, loaded it, and fired at his sleeping father.
- He is charged with criminal homicide and is being held without bail; a preliminary hearing is set for January 22.
- Why it matters: The case highlights how quickly family conflict can turn fatal when firearms are accessible to children.
A Pennsylvania boy has been charged with criminal homicide after allegedly shooting his father in the head because the man confiscated his Nintendo Switch.
The shooting happened early Tuesday, January 13, in the family’s Duncannon Borough home in Perry County, according to court records reviewed by News Of Los Angeles. The victim, 42-year-old Douglas Dietz, died at the scene. His son, whose name is being withheld because of his age, was adopted in 2018.
Chain of Events
Jillian Dietz told investigators she woke to a loud bang and the smell of gunpowder, local outlet WGAL reports. She tried to wake her husband, heard dripping, and realized he was bleeding heavily.
The boy then walked into the bedroom.
“Daddy’s dead,” he shouted, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities allege the child also told his mother, “I killed Daddy.”
What the Boy Told Police
In a videotaped interview the same day, the boy admitted he had retrieved a revolver from his father’s locked safe after finding the key. He originally opened the safe hoping to find his confiscated Switch, the documents state.
Instead, he:
- Removed the loaded gun
- Walked to his father’s side of the bed
- Pulled back the hammer
- Fired one shot at point-blank range
When asked whether he meant to kill his father, the boy replied he “was mad, and he had not thought about that,” investigators told WGAL.
He later told his mother, “I killed my dad. I hate myself,” according to KOMO News.
Birthday Turned Deadly
Police noted the incident occurred on the boy’s 11th birthday. Earlier that Monday, the family had celebrated at a local restaurant and visited a trampoline park, court records show.
The trouble started at bedtime.
“When his dad told him he needed to go to bed, he got mad at him,” the affidavit states.
The father then took away the Nintendo Switch, prompting the boy to retrieve the weapon.
Physical Evidence
When questioned, the child had:
- A large contusion above his left eye
- A small cut on his lower lip
Investigators did not say how the injuries occurred.
Legal Proceedings
The boy is charged as an adult with one count of criminal homicide under Pennsylvania law, which allows adult charges for suspects as young as 10 in homicide cases. He was arraigned Wednesday and denied bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 22 in Perry County Court.
News Of Los Angeles has reached out to Pennsylvania State Police and a public defender representing the boy for comment.
Community Reaction
Duncannon Borough, a rural community of about 1,500 residents along the Susquehanna River, has been shaken by the killing. Neighbors described the Dietz family as quiet and said the boy often played outside with other children.
Local schools added extra counselors Tuesday, though classes had not yet resumed after the holiday break.
Key Takeaways
- A single household argument over a video-game console ended in a fatal shooting.
- Secure firearm storage did not prevent the child from accessing a loaded weapon.
- Pennsylvania law automatically transfers juvenile homicide suspects to adult court at age 10, exposing the boy to a potential life sentence.
The case remains under investigation.
