An 11-year-old boy faces criminal homicide charges after authorities allege he shot and killed his father at a home in Duncannon Borough, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The shooting occurred shortly after 3:00 am on Tuesday, when state police Police responded to a call about an “unconscious” man” at a residence on South Market Street. The victim, 42-year-old Douglas Dietz, was pronounced dead at the scene. The argument reportedly began over a video game console. According to investigators, the incident occurred after the child became upset when his father took away his Nintendo Switch and told him to go to bed. Court documents indicate the family had celebrated the child's birthday earlier that day and went to bed shortly after midnight. During questioning, the child reportedly told police he had a good day with his parents but became angry when they took away his console. According to records, he admitted to shooting his father and stated he was upset and “hadn't thought about what would happen next.” The weapon was taken from a safe bedroom. According to the affidavit, the child used a firearm stored in a safe located in his parents' bedroom. The child allegedly found the key inside his father's drawer, opened the safe, loaded the gun, and walked to the side of the bed where his father was sleeping. Authorities say the boy pulled the trigger and fired a single shot into the victim's head as he slept. The mother discovered the crime after hearing a loud noise. The child's mother told police she was asleep when she heard a loud noise. Initially, she thought it was fireworks, but when she tried to wake her husband and received no response, she noticed a sound like dripping water, which turned out to be blood. According to court records, The boy then entered the bedroom and told his mother that his father was dead. Police reported that they also heard the child say, “I killed Dad.”

Minor detained without bail

The boy, identified as Clayton Dietz, was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police and charged with criminal homicide.He was denied bail and remains in custody at the Perry County Detention Center. A court hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Authorities stated that the child had been adopted by the couple in 2018.

Community and school express dismay

A neighbor described the family as quiet and friendly, saying that violence was unimaginable. “I didn't expect this,” Jesse Weldon, a Duncannon resident, told local media. The Susquenita Independent School District issued a statement acknowledging the impact of the crime on the student community and announced that school counselors and psychologists are available to provide support. Additionally, a GiveSendGo page was created to support Jillian Dietz following the death of her husband.