11-year-old boy led to court in handcuffs after being accused of killing stepdad over Nintendo game

An 11-year-old boy has appeared in court in Pennsylvania, United States of America, charged as an adult with criminal homicide after allegedly shooting his adoptive father at their home earlier this year.

Clayton Dietz was escorted into a courthouse by probation officers on Thursday, February 19, for his first hearing. The child is accused of fatally shooting 42-year-old Douglas Dietz on January 13 at the family’s residence in Duncannon Borough.

Prosecutors allege the boy shot his stepfather in the head while he was asleep. According to court documents, investigators say Clayton accessed a firearm from a safe in his parents’ bedroom. Police claim the incident followed a dispute in which the child had been upset after his Nintendo Switch was confiscated.

An affidavit states that Clayton had gone into his parents’ room believing the safe contained his gaming console, but instead found a revolver.

Court filings say the boy’s mother, Jillian, told officers she awoke to a loud noise and initially believed she smelled fireworks. When she attempted to wake her husband and received no response, she noticed liquid dripping onto the floor, which she later realised was blood.

Police documents further allege that the child entered the room shouting that his father was dead. Officers at the scene reportedly heard him say, “I k!lled Daddy.”

Clayton has been charged as an adult, a move that has drawn attention given his age. However, his defence team has asked the judge to consider transferring the case to juvenile court. Speaking to local outlet CBS 21 after the hearing, his lawyer said the goal would be to seek jurisdiction in the juvenile system.

The case remains ongoing as the court determines whether the matter will proceed in adult criminal court or be reassigned to juvenile proceedings.