Who Is 11-Year-Old Clayton Dietz? Boy Accused of Fatally Shooting Adoptive Dad: 'I Killed Daddy'

On the day that marks his 11th birthday, Clay Dietz fatally shot his adoptive father in their Pennsylvania home. Moments after his parents greeted him and sang 'happy birthday' at midnight on 13 January, a loud 'bang' was heard.

During the investigation, the boy was heard saying, 'I killed Daddy' after he got mad over a Nintendo Switch. The boy is now charged as an adult with criminal homicide. Here's everything about Clayton Dietz.

What Happened on 13 January?

Clayton Dietz just turned 11 years old when his life turned upside down over an action that he admitted he did not consider the consequences of. Clayton said his confiscated Nintendo Switch made him 'mad.'

On the midnight of his birthday, his adoptive parents greeted and sang him a 'happy birthday' song, but at approximately 3:00am, the Pennsylvania State Police responded to their home for a report of a male with a gunshot wound, and upon arrival, authorities found Douglas Diets, 42, dead, he was found on his back with an apparent gunshot wound to the head — Clayton shot his father.

Videos circulating online show the 11-year-old boy, handcuffed and surrounded by probation officers as he entered the courtroom. He is being accused of fatally shooting his dad inside their home. He made his first court appearance on Thursday, 11 February.

Clayton's adoptive mum, Jillian Dietz, and Douglas' wife told investigators that she and her husband had gone to bed shortly after midnight after singing 'Happy Birthday' to their son, but a loud noise woke her up.

Jillian attempted to wake her husband but realised that he was unresponsive and saw blood on their bed. When Clayton entered the room, Jillian yelled words to the effect of 'Daddy's dead,' Fox News reported. The boy ran downstairs shouting, 'My dad's dead.'

During the investigation, while authorities are speaking with Clayton and Jillian in the kitchen, a state trooper reported hearing Clayton admitting, 'I killed Daddy.'

Authorities also learned during questioning that Clayton was allegedly searching for his Nintendo Switch, which was previously confiscated from him when he found the keys to the gun safe. The child believed that the gaming console might be inside, but instead, when he opened the safe, he found a revolver.

Clayton allegedly said that he was 'mad' when he was told to go to bed, and when asked what he thought would happen when he pulled the trigger, he said he was angry and did not consider the consequences.

Legal Counsel Aims to Transfer to Juvenile Court

On 13 January, a Perry County criminal docket shows that his bail was denied, and he remains confined at the Perry County Prison. It also shows that Clayton waived his preliminary hearing on 19 February, and the case was marked 'waived for court,' meaning it will proceed to the Court of Common Pleas.

Family members did not give any comments on the proceeding, but defense attorney Dave Wilson said he plans to seek a transfer of the case to juvenile court. 'My goal is going to be to try to get him into juvenile court,' Wilson said.

The 11-year-old remains charged as an adult with criminal homicide, as further proceedings are expected as the defense seeks to move the case to juvenile court. The investigation also remains ongoing.

Who is Clayton Dietz?

Outside the court proceedings, who exactly is Clayton? Clayton is an 11-year-old from Duncannon, Pennsylvania.

Reports indicated that he was adopted in 2018 by his mum, Jillian, and dad. Douglas. The boy is an avid fan and user of the game console Nintendo Switch, which is what led to the fatal shooting.

There's not much available information about his personal life other than the reports published about the incident on 13 January.

Meanwhile, authorities noted that the child had a bloody lip and a swollen bruise above his eye when they arrived at the scene, although the specific cause of these injuries—whether they occurred before or during the incident—has not been publicly detailed.