Child Accused of Shooting Father Over Nintendo Switch
An 11-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his father after his Nintendo Switch was taken away made his first court appearance this week.
Clayton Dietz appeared before a judge on Thursday, Feb. 19, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, according to Fox News and local outlets CBS 21 News and WGAL 8. The preteen was led into and out of the courtroom in handcuffs by officers.
Dietz was previously denied bail on Jan. 13 and is currently being tried as an adult.
Details of the Charges
Clayton has been charged with homicide in connection with the death of his father, Douglas Dietz. The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 13, which was Clayton’s 11th birthday.
According to court documents and reporting from WGAL 8, the incident began after Clayton became upset when his adoptive father took away his Nintendo Switch and told him to go to bed.
Investigators allege that Clayton later found a key to a safe in his father’s drawer and unlocked it, reportedly hoping to retrieve the video game console. Instead, he found a firearm. According to an affidavit obtained by WGAL 8, the 11-year-old allegedly fired the gun at his father.
When police asked Clayton what he believed would happen when he pulled the trigger, he reportedly said he “was mad” and he “had not thought about that,” according to the affidavit cited by the outlet.
Mother’s Account
Douglas Dietz’s wife, Jillian Dietz, told police that she and her husband sang “Happy Birthday” to Clayton before going to bed that night, according to ABC 27 News.
She later awoke to the sound of a gunshot. According to ABC 27, she told police she saw Clayton in a closet, where he allegedly said, “He’s dead,” before running downstairs and yelling, “My dad’s dead.”
Officials confirmed to WGAL 8 that Douglas and Jillian Dietz adopted Clayton in 2018.
Legal Strategy
After Thursday’s hearing, Clayton’s attorney, Dave Wilson, told local outlets he had no comment on the specifics of the case. However, he said his “goal” is to get his client “into juvenile court.”
Under current proceedings, Clayton is being tried as an adult. A future court date has not yet been scheduled, though Wilson told WGAL 8 that he anticipates the case will return to court in May.
The case continues to move through the legal system as prosecutors and defense attorneys determine how it will proceed.
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