A community is in shock after an 11-year-old boy was arrested and charged with criminal homicide following the fatal shooting of his father in Duncannon.
According to the Perry County District Attorney’s Office, the incident took place around 3:00 a.m. on January 13 at a residence on South Market Street. Authorities identified the victim as 42-year-old Douglas Dietz.
Pennsylvania State Police arrived at the scene to find Dietz deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The juvenile, identified in court documents as Clayton Dietz, was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
Jillian Dietz, the victim’s wife and Clayton’s mother, told police she was sleeping next to her husband and was awakened by a loud noise. After attempting to wake up Douglas, Jillian said she heard something dripping and realized it was blood.
While speaking with Jillian and Clayton, a trooper claimed he heard Clayton say, “I killed Daddy.”
Due to the nature of the charge, the 11-year-old has been charged as an adult with one count of criminal homicide, as required by Pennsylvania law for murder-related offenses involving juveniles. He was arraigned before Judge Richard Gibney, who denied bail. The boy is currently being held at the Perry County Prison.
A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for January 22. Officials have stated there is no further threat to the public.
