We are saddened to learn that 42-year-old Douglas Dietz died during a September shooting. The shooting that took place in his residence in Duncannon Borough on January 13. When law enforcement officers rushed to the scene, they immediately found something heart-wrenching. They discovered the father dead in bed, having sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
What happened that night just after midnight about a month ago, when Douglas Dietz and his wife fell asleep. According to reports, his 11-year-old son was the shooter in this tragic situation. The boy reportedly shot his dad while searching for his Nintendo Switch. His parents had grounded him, and that included taking his game console.
Local officials reported that the toddler had gone looking for his video game system. Along the way, he successfully unlocked a firearm, which happens to be when tragedy ensued. Relatedly, the shooting has shocked the community. Parents are struggling with the new, grief-filled reality of learning how a tragedy like this could occur in a school.
Instead of being safeguarded from prosecution after this tragic interaction, the boy now finds himself under threat of severe criminal liability—including criminal homicide charges. This situation raises significant concerns regarding firearm accessibility in homes with children and the potential consequences of disciplinary actions involving electronic devices.
A legislative hearing is already scheduled for January 22. While this hearing is occurring, court actions will be proceeding against the 11-year-old. This community today is very much in shock as the story continues to unwind. They are searching for answers to understand how this unprecedented catastrophe could occur.