Court records say the child opened a bedroom gun safe after his Nintendo Switch had been taken away.
DUNCANNON, Pa. — An 11-year-old boy is charged with criminal homicide after his father, 42-year-old Douglas Dietz, was found shot in a South Market Street home around 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 13, authorities said. Investigators say the child retrieved a handgun from a bedroom safe before the shooting.
Police and court papers outline a rare and troubling case now moving through Perry County’s courts. The boy, identified in filings as Clayton W. Dietz, was taken into custody and denied bail. Under Pennsylvania law, homicide counts are filed in adult court; a judge will later decide whether the case shifts to juvenile court. A preliminary hearing is set for later this month. The Susquenita School District said counseling staff are available for students as the community absorbs the news.
According to the affidavit, Douglas and his wife adopted Clayton in 2018 and had sung happy birthday to him shortly after midnight. The couple went to bed in a room connected by a closet to the boy’s bedroom. The document says the child told investigators he was upset after being told to go to sleep and after losing access to his Nintendo Switch. He said he found a key in his father’s drawer, opened a safe in the primary bedroom, loaded a handgun and fired at his father as he slept. The wife told police she awoke to a loud bang and a smell like fireworks, then turned on a light and realized her husband was bleeding. The boy returned to the room and, according to the affidavit, said, “Daddy’s dead,” and told his mother, “I killed Daddy.”
Troopers responded to a 911 call for an unresponsive man and found Douglas Dietz dead of a gunshot wound to the head, according to charging papers. The child later told investigators he was mad and “had not thought about” what would happen after he pulled the trigger, the affidavit states. Authorities said he initially went into the safe looking for the game console that had been taken away earlier. Police noted a bruise above the boy’s left eye and a cut to his bottom lip; the affidavit does not explain how those injuries occurred. The type of firearm, the number of shots fired and where exactly the key was stored were not detailed in the public filings reviewed Wednesday. Officials said there was no threat to the public.
Pennsylvania law requires homicide charges to begin in adult court regardless of a defendant’s age; defense lawyers commonly seek “decertification” to move cases to juvenile court, where the focus is rehabilitation and jurisdiction ends at age 21. Prosecutors may oppose a transfer based on public safety and the facts of the case. In this case, the boy was arraigned and committed to the Perry County Prison without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, in district court, according to the docket. Additional forensic work, including ballistics and a full autopsy report, remains pending. Authorities have not announced any additional charges.
Neighbors described the block as generally quiet. “I didn’t expect this,” said Jesse Weldon, who lives nearby and said he saw state police at the home as the sun came up. The Susquenita School District said counselors and psychologists would be available to students affected by the news. Community members left flowers near the property line by afternoon. A family member reached by phone declined to comment.
As of late Wednesday, the child remained in custody on a single count of criminal homicide. The court set the next appearance for Jan. 22. Investigators said the inquiry is active and did not release further details about the gun or ammunition recovered at the scene.
Author note: Last updated January 15, 2026.