An 11-year-old boy accused of killing his adoptive father during a birthday celebration at their Pennsylvania home, allegedly after his gaming console was taken away, has been ordered to stand trial as an adult, given the gravity of the crime. He made his first court appearance on Thursday, handcuffed, maintaining an expressionless demeanour and ignoring questions from the press.
The incident occurred on the night of the child’s birthday, January 13, when an argument reportedly broke out between the boy and his adoptive parents over video games. Police said the boy, Clayton Dietz, shot his 42-year-old father, Douglas Dietz, in the head while he was asleep, using a revolver he had taken from a bedroom safe at their home.
He has since been charged with criminal homicide.
According to police, the shooting took place shortly after midnight, after the family had gone to bed following a birthday celebration during which they sang “Happy Birthday” to Clayton. The victim’s wife, the boy’s mother, told authorities she woke to a loud noise, tried to rouse her husband, and then noticed blood coming from his head as he lay motionless.
She also told police that after the shooting, the boy said to her, “I killed my dad. I hate myself.” An officer reportedly also heard him say, “I killed Daddy”.
The boy later told police he had enjoyed the day with his parents but was upset because his Nintendo Switch had been taken away, Fox News reported.
Court records cited by local reports mentioned that Clayton admitted he “had someone in mind who he was going to shoot” and that he loaded the revolver, pulled back the hammer, and shot his father while he slept.
Prosecutors argued that the severity of the crime warranted transferring the case to adult jurisdiction, a request the judge approved following a preliminary hearing. The decision means the child could face significantly harsher penalties than those typically imposed in juvenile court if convicted.
Defence attorneys opposed the move, contending that the boy’s age, psychological development, and family circumstances should have kept the case within the juvenile justice system. They indicated they may appeal the ruling, according to the Daily Mail.
The child remains in custody pending further hearings, and authorities have not released his identity due to his age.
Clayton was adopted by Douglas and Jillian Dietz in 2018.
