11-year-old boy charged with murder after allegedly shooting father over confiscated Nintendo Switch
An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy has allegedly shot and killed his father after the man took away his Nintendo Switch gaming console.
The incident occurred in Duncannon Borough, Perry County, on Tuesday, January 13, when a 42-year-old, reportedly confiscated his son’s Nintendo Switch, according to local outlet WGAL.
Court records show the boy has been charged with criminal homicide, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 22. He was denied bail.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The man’s wife, told police she woke to a loud gunshot and a burning smell, as reported by WGAL. She tried to wake her husband but noticed he was bleeding heavily from a dripping wound.
The boy then entered the bedroom and allegedly shouted, “Daddy’s dead.” Authorities at the scene said they heard him tell his mother, “I killed Daddy.”
The child, adopted by the couple in 2018, reportedly told investigators it was his birthday and he’d enjoyed the day with his parents until his father sent him to bed.
“When his dad told him he needed to go to bed, he got mad at him,” court documents obtained by WGAL stated. The boy admitted to police, “I shot somebody.”
The affidavit continued: “He admitted that he had someone in mind whom he was going to shoot, whom he identified as his father.”
According to the documents, the boy found the key to his father’s safe expecting to retrieve his Switch, but discovered a revolver instead. He allegedly confessed to “removing the gun from the safe, loading bullets into it and walking over to his father’s side of the bed.”
The affidavit states: “He pulled back the hammer and fired the gun at his father.”
The boy told investigators he was “mad, and he had not thought about that,” when asked about his intent to fatally shoot his father.
Later, he reportedly told his mother, “I killed my dad. I hate myself,” KOMO News reported. Police noted the boy had a “large contusion” above his left eye and a small laceration on his lower lip during questioning.
