DUNCANNON, Pennsylvania — Early on the morning of January 13, a quiet family home on South Market Street became the scene of a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken this small Perry County community. Forty-two-year-old Douglas Dietz was found dead in his bed with a single gunshot wound to the head, and authorities say the suspected shooter was his own 11-year-old son, Clayton W. Dietz — on the very day the boy turned 11.
Police were called just after 3 a.m. after neighbors reported a loud gunshot and a worried mother called 911 from inside the home. When troopers arrived, medical personnel were already checking on Douglas, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court records and police reports paint a shocking picture of what unfolded. Investigators allege that the boy became enraged earlier that night after his father took away his Nintendo Switch gaming console — a punishment he did not accept quietly. In frustration, Clayton reportedly searched his father’s dresser, found the key to a gun safe, and opened it to retrieve what he thought might be the device. Instead, he found a loaded revolver.
According to court documents, the boy loaded the revolver and walked into his sleeping father’s bedroom, where he fired once at Douglas. The suspect later admitted to police that he “had someone in mind” when he pulled the trigger and identified that person as his father.
Douglas’s wife, Jillian Dietz, was asleep beside her husband when a loud bang woke her. She initially thought the sound was fireworks or something falling, but after nudging her husband and hearing what sounded like dripping water, she realized he had been shot. When their son entered the room moments later, he reportedly yelled, “Daddy’s dead,” and then told his mother, “I killed my dad.”
The boy was taken into custody without incident. Under Pennsylvania law, juveniles aged 10 and older can face adult charges in violent crimes, and Clayton was formally charged with criminal homicide. A judge denied bail, and he is being held at the Perry County Prison ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 22, 2026.
Local residents say the Dietz family was known but kept to themselves, and the news has left many in disbelief. “It’s just hard to wrap your head around,” one neighbor told reporters, describing the scene as both tragic and surreal. Law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances that led to this shooting, and officials have not released detailed background information on the family.
In the aftermath, community members and the local school district have begun talks about counseling and support for those affected by the incident. As Duncannon mourns a life lost and seeks answers, the case raises tough questions about gun safety in homes, juvenile anger, and how families and communities can prevent such devastating outcomes.
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