An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy allegedly shot his father to death after previously having his Nintendo Switch handheld gaming system taken away.
The boy is facing criminal homicide charges after a 13 January shooting at his family’s home in Duncannon Borough.
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.
The victim was reportedly discovered in the bedroom he shared with his wife, which court documents say is connected to their son’s bedroom by a closet.
Police reported it was the child’s birthday, and he had entered the bedroom shouting: “Daddy’s dead.” Troopers at the scene also reportedly said that they heard the son tell his mother: “I killed Daddy.”
Police said the shooting occurred after the couple had gone to bed shortly past midnight. The child reportedly told authorities that he had had a good day with his parents, but the documents reportedly state that he became “mad” when his father told him it was time to go to bed.
According to the news outlet, the court document says that the boy told police he found a key to the gun safe in his father’s drawer in his parent’s bedroom. He reportedly unlocked it while attempting to locate his Nintendo Switch – which had previously been taken away from him – and found a gun.
103 Comments
Veedem@lemmy.world · 134 pts · 207d
Jesus man. This is a horrific situation. That poor woman lost her husband and, effectively, her son in one night.
Triumph@fedia.io · 39 pts · 207d
The fact that the kid could easily get into the safe makes it no such thing.
Asmodeus_Krang@infosec.pub · 67 pts · 207d
magic_smoke@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 31 pts · 207d
Yeah no this is why if you own guns you should only buy combo safes, with at least one that has no key to keep the keys to the rest.
Calling a locksmith is better than calling a coroner.
Also, ffs, choose a good combo, keep it in a secure password manager. Not rocket science.
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 26 pts · 207d
Or just effectively hide your key. It's really not hard to keep a key hidden from a 11 year old.
My bet is it was somewhere dumb like in the same room above the door frame or in a drawer.
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 35 pts · 206d
From the summary.
magic_smoke@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 206d
Oh for sure, but even with a good hiding place kids are shits and have a lotta time on their hands. ESPECIALLY after their preferred game/tablet/whatever has been taken away.
I'll take no chance over low chance.
KoboldCoterie@pawb.social · 15 pts · 207d
That makes it... not a horrific situation? What?
chesshire@lemmy.world · 35 pts · 207d
Makes the safe, not a safe.
KoboldCoterie@pawb.social · 15 pts · 207d
Well, that makes much more sense.
BigBenis@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 206d
Lol I was also confused, we can be dumb in solidarity today.
KoboldCoterie@pawb.social · 3 pts · 206d
🤜🤛
Triumph@fedia.io · 8 pts · 207d
Makes the safe no such thing.
FreshLight@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 205d
It is still very saddening imo
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 207d
Maybe something good can come out of it. The kid has serious issues which hopefully he gets intense therapy for, rather than not killing his dad and growing up being some psycho killer that terrorizes the general public.
halcyoncmdr@piefed.social · 62 pts · 207d
Oh he's going to be in the US prison system now. He will get next to zero mental health care provided.
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 207d
Yep, 10 years old is the age in PA where a child can be charged with a crime. Placing him in the juvenile court/prison system. Under 10 and courts could only send him to a psychiatric facility.
He is still under the cutoff for where they could charge him as an adult (14).
Drusas@fedia.io · 3 pts · 206d
At his age, that is not necessarily the case.
Triasha@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 206d
The kid killed one of the only people that might have provided that care, and probably left the other in poverty.
The odds ain't good.
homura1650@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 206d
He's likely going to have mental health issues now, as a result of the shooting.
As for pre-existing mental health issues; to me the most likely condition seems to be "was 11", which most people grow out of. As a thought experiment, how many 11 year olds are there that you would be comfortable having a gun unsupervised.
markovs_gun@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 206d
The number of people in this comments who think that looking for the key to a gun safe, getting a gun out of it, loading it, and using it to murder someone is normal 11 year old behavior is insane. Kid has some serious issues to be capable of something like this
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 205d
He is autistic.
butwhyishischinabook@piefed.social · 2 pts · 205d
Okay? Don't see how that explains this.
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 206d
At 11 my dad had guns in the house, but not in a million years would my anger have made me think yo load his gun shoot him. (Plus ammo was hidden and locks separate from his guns)
That kid has serious unchecked emotional dysregulation in my opinion.
I think in rural Canada you can handle guns at 12 legally.
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 205d
He is autistic. It's in the article.
butwhyishischinabook@piefed.social · 2 pts · 205d
And?
damnedfurry@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 205d
Now?
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 206d
dont think therapy will help once you already murdered someone, it mightve help if he had ideations of it.
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 206d
That is possible, but some people regret and don't reoffend
imposedsensation@lemmynsfw.com · 3 pts · 207d
What did he do when he was told he'd never play Nintendo Switch again?
meejle@lemmy.world · 61 pts · 207d
This must be the fault of violent video games
Not guns
Nope
eli@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 206d
Inb4 Trump bans the Nintendo Switch thinking it's a Glock switch
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 206d
nintendo switches are quite big for his hands.
meejle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 206d
Asmodeus_Krang@infosec.pub · -13 pts · 207d
BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 19 pts · 207d
It's far more difficult to kill with a knife or hammer.
That's literally why guns exist, to make killing easier.
Asmodeus_Krang@infosec.pub · -11 pts · 206d
BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 206d
One whack with a ball peen from an 11 year old child?
Only if they know exactly where to aim (specific parts of the head) and get a bit lucky too. If the kid whacks him in the chest with it, he isn't likely going to die.
People survive lots of things, as a whole guns are more effective than other means and you know it.
Asmodeus_Krang@infosec.pub · -5 pts · 206d
BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 206d
You're the one not living in reality, Wikipedia even has an article related to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_youngest_killers
There are only two entries on that entire list of a child killing an adult without using a gun, both in China. One was the strangulation of a grandmother who was beating him, and the other a stabbing of a mother who was also beating him.
On the other hand, there are 11 entries of a child using a gun to kill an adult.
A gun didn't walk into that room, but if a gun had not been in that house, it's almost certain that father would still be alive. Another case of someone buying a gun for self protection, only to have it be the reason they died.
Asmodeus_Krang@infosec.pub · -5 pts · 206d
tidderuuf@lemmy.world · -15 pts · 207d
Ah yes, good idea to get rid of all guns. I'm sure Trump's ICE and SS will find their jobs a lot easier.
bored_gamer@lemmy.zip · 28 pts · 207d
yakko@feddit.uk · 5 pts · 207d
It does put the lie to that argument, but at the same time what do you really think would happen if lefties went kinetic on ICE across the states? The protestors aren't stupid, it'd be martial law.
It will probably go that way somehow or another, probably some false flag a la Chechnya. But at least don't oblige them.
amorpheus@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 206d
What's the advantage in dragging it out?
yakko@feddit.uk · -1 pts · 206d
You kidding? The whole point of marital law would be to halt new elections. They aren't planning to leave.
amorpheus@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 206d
What makes you think you're going to have midterms currently?
yakko@feddit.uk · -4 pts · 206d
stylusmobilus@aussie.zone · 16 pts · 206d
Because as we see, all those good guys with guns are scaring ICE away.
TheGoldenV@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 207d
Predator Drone INTENSIFIES
Tiger666@lemmy.ca · -3 pts · 206d
What is wrong with responsible gun ownership? We have licenses and registries for vehicles why not for firearms? Nobody said get ride of all firearms, that was on you.
0x0@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 205d
It's mostly a myth?
Randomgal@lemmy.ca · 54 pts · 206d
But don't worry bro all this tragedies are worth it because all the guns will protect America for tyranny... Wait, hold up...
Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca · 47 pts · 207d
Talent like that can't go to waste. He'll be put in ICE's young achievers club where youth will be free to learn and grow at an advanced rate free from normal societies mores. He will practice high-performance psychopathy, bleeding edge unwarranted agression and advanced immunity from prosecution.
This boy has a bright future, as does America.
lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 206d
"Rockwell Jugend"
SuperEars@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 206d
Sounds a bit like the minting of a new Space Marine
ReginaPhalange@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 206d
So bright, it's almost all white
eestileib@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 47 pts · 207d
Charlie Kirk approved of that
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 44 pts · 206d
Yeah, my kid is way too unpredictable, there's is absolutely no way that I could ever have a firearm in my home or else this will be me or my wife, 100% certainty. We regularly get punched, kicked, bitten, etc almost daily. When he's angry (which is often) he just can't think, and then he regrets his actions later, but he does some dumb shit when he's angry...
Jumbie@lemmy.zip · 32 pts · 206d
Bro. You can’t just accept this. Get the kid in therapy before he becomes a horrible adult.
Harsh? Come on, man. Help the kid!
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 206d
We have more professionals involved than you'd believe. Trust me, we're working on it, but change is a slow road. You may have heard for instance that therapy only works if you want to change, well if a nine year old isn't mature enough to want to change or be willing to participate in the process, well that also slows things down.
At the risk of being blunt here, I'm not really looking for parenting advice, I'm actually pretty sure we're doing a decent job despite a particularly hard kid with some very real challenges.
But I do sincerely see that you mean well, and want to help, so thank you.
Jumbie@lemmy.zip · 24 pts · 206d
Hey man, thanks for responding. I apologize for the unwanted judgment and I wish you and your kid the best.
Cheers.
TheFonz@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 205d
I have two boys with autism. Some of this resonates. Have you had him tested? I imagine you have but just in case. Good luck.
Taleya@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 205d
47 year old autist, hells yeah. Easier learning to deal with malfunctioning regulation as a kid than as an adult after a string of fuckups
TheFonz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 205d
I mean catching it early is the best as opposed to finding out later. Best of luck
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 205d
As someone who once was that 9 year old, and has my own child I'll probably go through the same thing with, hugs and there is a light at the end of the tunnel
ApatheticCactus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 205d
I've not had kids, but I've had many dogs. It's a similar thing where people who have had a few good dogs look at a 'bad dog' and blame the owner. The dog needs training, or discipline, or whatever... And they've never had a dog that had issues. Until you do get that one stubborn little asshole where nothing works. Yes, we've tried that- the dog is willfully just a little asshole. Still love 'em, still give them the best life you can- but you know them too well and just know that they are going to be a pain and do bad things no matter what. All you can do is try to mitigate the damage and make sure they don't hurt themselves.
For our dog that was like that- it just took a long time for him to grow old enough to slow down. Then he became the sweetest and best dog ever.
Good luck on the kid. Hope they figure it out sooner rather than later.
wavebeam@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 206d
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 206d
Wow, thank you for sharing all of that. I know you've been through a lot, as it turns out adoption is not an easy road. Yeah I'd say we're in the same boat here a lot of ways, we also adopted. He was 6 when he moved in with us, and he came with a lot of baggage. He apparently moved around the system a lot before he got to us, had a lot of different homes, and some of those were not good for him either.
So yeah, he definitely still has some problematic behaviors, he has not figured out how to be respectful to the people around him. But he's beginning to be able to actually talk about his emotions, at least a bit. And the violence is way down from where it was a couple years ago. And OH MY GOD it was amazing when we found a medication that actually helped him! I have a new appreciation for SSRIs (they never did much for our first kid, so I had my doubts). But when we started him on that, I honestly I feel like that week was the start of a new era, like all of a sudden he was actually able to hear what people around him were saying, rather than just hearing his own anxieties reflected back. (The next goal is to get him to care about what other people are saying *sigh*) But yeah, that was still a turning point, it felt like he started learning how to interact with people for the first time that week.
Anyway, I don't really like to get into all of this on the web, you really don't know how long things can live online and I don't want any of this to come back and embarrass him or anything. But yeah, thanks for reaching out I appreciate it more than I can express. And of course feel free to DM me any time if you want a non-judgmental ear too, I know how difficult and thankless this role can be.
Out of curiosity though, what state are you in? I know the state agencies that handle adoption can vary a lot from state to state and sometimes the services on offer to help out can be lacking. I think we are probably lucky to live in MA, I think the services available here are pretty good, even if DCF (dept of children and families) is currently a mess with budgets being slashed.
wavebeam@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 202d
87Six@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 205d
You sound like you're talking about a 50 year old alcoholic abuser that got 3 divorces and is now dirt poor because the women always won the lawsuits
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 205d
Did you fail to read the part that says the child is autistic and 2025 was a rough year for him? And that he was recommended for special help because he'd started showing early signs of violent behaviour?
Mesophar@pawb.social · 1 pts · 204d
From Cocodapuf? Or from the article? Because you replied to a comment that wasn't even talking about the article...
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 204d
I replied to 87six.
Mesophar@pawb.social · 1 pts · 204d
Damn, my bad, I'm so sleep deprived I would have bet money this was under the other comment thread
lavander@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 206d
Have you considered having him visit a therapist?
He may have unresolved emotions that would benefit him (and people around him) to come out.
Child therapists pretty much “play” with them so it’s something kids don’t get annoyed/bored (or even give them a lot of thoughts)
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 206d
We have a whole lot of professionals involved. He certainly has unresolved emotions, as well as emotional delay and two other diagnoses. Don't worry, we're on it, there's just a lot of work to do.
lavander@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 205d
❤️ Glad to hear that and all the best with your work!
MycelialMass@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 206d
How old are they?
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 206d
9 now. As he gets older the situation is getting better. But then again, he punches harder too.
bigboismith@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 206d
If just the father had his own gun to him, he could have had defended himself.
njm1314@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 206d
We need more guns to be able to defend ourselves against children with guns. Write your Congressman today.
apftwb@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 207d
Its always a tragedy. It feels simultaneously avoidable and inevitable. Its always a tragedy.
HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 20 pts · 206d
https://www.wgal.com/article/family-friend-11-year-old-accused-perry-county-death-autism-close-bond-family/70013984
WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca · 15 pts · 206d
White 40something American with a goatee and a shaved head who keeps a gun next to his bed and is raising a violent kid?
Will withhold judgment on whether this is any big loss.
jim@lemmy.org · 7 pts · 206d
You don’t fuck with Animal Crossing.
Wilco@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 206d
Oh discordia ... no great loss. (Stephen King's "The Stand")
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 206d
i don't think you need to be a violent kid to accidentally shoot someone to death; that's why guns are so insidious. it only takes a couple of simple actions at most to kill someone. it's simple enough where people might not think about the consequences before killing somebody. it makes death easily accessible and not a very physical or straining task.
i also would generally refrain from calling an unknown kid who you just don't know violent, or passing judgement on the father for looking a certain way. stereotypes might turn out true, but they also might not.
markovs_gun@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 206d
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · -11 pts · 206d
yep
markovs_gun@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 206d
I hate when I accidentally search for the key to a gun safe, accidentally unlock the gun safe with the key, accidentally take the gun out of the safe, then accidentally aim it at someone and then accidentally shoot them with it that's the worst!
xvapx@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 206d
Don't forget accidentally picking bullets and loading the gun with them!
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · -7 pts · 206d
i take a long time to properly think through consequences, and as a kid I couldn't ever dare to try and truly feel what it would be like to shoot somebody. just because you may be different doesn't mean everyone is. children are specifically known for their lack of foresight and increased impulsivity. one impulse can be enough for someone to go through a minutes-long process. minutes isn't anywhere near the max that can appear.
xvapx@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 206d
This is true, but that's not what "accidentally" means.
"Impulsively" would have been a more fitting word.
WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 206d
Would be more than happy to be wrong but it this guy wasn’t MAGA I’ll eat my hat
CircaV@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 206d
Is America great again yet?
phoenixz@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 205d
11 year old boy who barely understands the consequences of his actions obviously has access to weapons and then shoots his dad....
This is extremely tragic but this obviously being the US, you can bet your ass that this little boy's life hasn't been ruined enough.
The government will jump on this, jail his ass as an adult because I don't know why they have laws for kids of they try all kids like adults anyways, and they'll make sure he'll be fucked for life.
The US is a shit hole third world banana republic
pir8t0x@ani.social · 6 pts · 205d
What's this world turning into?!
pir8t0x@ani.social · 5 pts · 205d
WHAT
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 206d
its like that guy that got enraged and killed his baby/child after accidentally disconnecting the game console.
87Six@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 205d
Touch the switch & get a stitch
jim@lemmy.org · -4 pts · 206d
Life in prison.
Bazell@lemmy.zip · -5 pts · 205d
AlexLost@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 205d
What? Most of us understand games vs real life, yes even children. What this is is a gun problem, not a violence in video games problem. Americans solve everything with a gun, because violence is the only argument you make.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 205d
Of fuck right off Jack Thompson
No, violent games do not make violent people and stop suggesting it, we've already spent a few decades getting rid of that nonsense
mavu@discuss.tchncs.de · -5 pts · 206d
Well, fuck around, find out. I guess?
ZiggyTheZygote@lemmy.ca · -9 pts · 207d
That's a reasonable reaction for an American. Isn't that how things work there?
diabetic_porcupine@lemmy.world · -13 pts · 206d
Daddy had it coming. Don’t touch that boys switch.
TwinTitans@lemmy.world · -15 pts · 207d
It better have at least been a 2.