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erronis

(23,262 posts) Fri Jan 16, 2026, 05:41 PM Jan 16

US boy, 11, allegedly shoots father to death after Nintendo Switch taken away [View all]

Source: The Guardian

An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy allegedly shot his father to death after previously having his Nintendo Switch handheld gaming system taken away.

...

Police were dispatched to the family's residence at about 3.20am, after a report of an "unresponsive male". The news site says that officers found a 42-year-old man named Douglas Dietz dead in bed from a gunshot wound to the head.

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The son then allegedly admitted to "removing the gun from the safe, loading bullets into it and walking over to his father's side of the bed", according to the affidavit. "He pulled back the hammer and fired the gun at his father," the affidavit adds.

When asked what he believed would happen when he fired the gun, the boy responded that he was "mad" and that he had "not thought about that", according to investigators.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/boy-allegedly-shoots-father-nintendo-switch

Another short quote from the article:

As put in court documents obtained and reported by WGAL News 8, the case illustrates how easily children can access guns in the US, where firearms are ubiquitous.

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US boy, 11, allegedly shoots father to death after Nintendo Switch taken away [View all] erronis Jan 16 OP

What a sick segment of society we have in this country that worships guns among all things. hlthe2b Jan 16 #1

Without a gun, it would be much harder for an 11 yr old to kill an adult male. Irish_Dem Jan 16 #2

At least it was in a safe. The boy found the key in a drawer. erronis Jan 16 #7

My nephew was getting into my brother's gun safe when he was 5 and 6. Igel Jan 16 #13

Parents often underestimate their child's intelligence and perseverance. Irish_Dem Jan 16 #20

What do you meant by "he could listen when my brother unlocked it?" Polybius Jan 17 #37

back with pushbutton phones Old Crank Jan 17 #42

The tones made sense for telephones. sl8 Jan 17 #44

I have no idea what the gun safe locks are like. Old Crank Jan 17 #45

This is still parental abuse/neglect/negligence. Irish_Dem Jan 16 #19

There is something disturbed about the kid iemanja Jan 16 #21

Absolutely. This child is not your usual...ect, ect.. He shouldn't be in society. chouchou Jan 16 #23

Yes of course. An 11 y/o child does not kill his father in cold blood without a back story. Irish_Dem Jan 16 #24

There may have been a reason for him keeping guns Polybius Jan 17 #38

If there were red flags with this child, the family had some choices to make. Irish_Dem Jan 17 #43

IPer the article, it was a keyed lock, not combination. The boy knew niyad Jan 16 #26

He found the key n/t Lulu KC Jan 16 #34

he had a record of inappropriate behavior. cab67 Jan 17 #57

Oh. The game was in the same safe as the gun? iemanja Jan 17 #59

I don't think it was. cab67 Jan 17 #60

I guess at least one less gun worshiper now. erronis Jan 16 #3

Beyond mean DenaliDemocrat Jan 16 #10

Another gun death approved by Charlie Kirk Norrrm Jan 16 #14

Not everyone with a gun is a "gun worshiper" Polybius Jan 17 #39

No need for apology. Even Charlie Kirk would'a supported the guy getting wacked as along as this episode 3Hotdogs Jan 17 #48

This happened in South Central Pennsylvania in a very small county (Perry) Wiz Imp Jan 16 #4

40 years ago (1986), my friend's son was seven years old. no_hypocrisy Jan 16 #5

Wow - that's horrible - sorry for your friend/family. erronis Jan 16 #8

40 Years ago DenaliDemocrat Jan 16 #11

They had cable . . . . . no_hypocrisy Jan 16 #12

Not 40 years ago DenaliDemocrat Jan 16 #35

We had cable 45 years ago. Wiz Imp Jan 17 #49

Not 40 years ago Polybius Jan 17 #36

No. DenaliDemocrat Jan 17 #46

Incorrect Polybius Jan 17 #50

You're wrong. Some stations started broadcasting 24 hours in the early 80's Wiz Imp Jan 17 #54

Depended on the affiliate. cab67 Jan 17 #58

Yeah...I can remember the sign off still into the mid-60's. I was 13 then..... Bengus81 Jan 17 #47

60's that was definitely a thing Polybius Jan 17 #51

Why did the kid have the combination? BidenRocks Jan 16 #6

Thought the same thing myself NickB79 Jan 16 #9

Key lock, not combination, and the boy knew where the key was. niyad Jan 16 #27

Based on at least some accounts - cab67 Jan 16 #31

Welcome to trump's America. mwb970 Jan 16 #15

Guns make a scary noise. Aussie105 Jan 16 #16

more information - cab67 Jan 16 #17

Thank you for that article. It paints a very sad picture. What a horrible loss. erronis Jan 16 #18

I just posted the same thing before realizing you'd done so Lulu KC Jan 16 #33

There is going to be a lot of commentary offered by both sides. . . Collimator Jan 16 #22

The father was careful to keep guns locked in the safe FakeNoose Jan 16 #25

He found the key while looking for his video game system. cab67 Jan 16 #30

Yes! This is EXACTLY why guns PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 16 #28

This message was self-deleted by its author LudwigPastorius Jan 16 #29

This message was self-deleted by its author Lulu KC Jan 16 #32

The child probably learned from ICE that that kind of shit is okay when you feel dissed. n/t Beartracks Jan 17 #40

well, i guess he (kid) showed him (dad) orleans Jan 17 #41

This would not have happened if he had whole milk. bucolic_frolic Jan 17 #52

If only dad had a gun. Oh . . . wait . . . Vinca Jan 17 #53

Little donvict in training having tantrum being told no SheltieLover Jan 17 #55

Psychopaths begin showing who they are when they are children dlk Jan 17 #56

Remember the Sandy Hook killer and his enabling mother. erronis Jan 17 #62

Or they grow up into a Nick Reiner dlk Jan 17 #63

and this......... twodogsbarking Jan 17 #61