In a heartbreaking incident, Gregory Zecca, the stepson of Duane “Dog” Chapman, has been involved in a tragic accident where his 13-year-old son, Anthony, was accidentally shot and killed.
The devastating incident occurred on Saturday, July 19, at an apartment in Naples, Florida, according to a report by TMZ. The police confirmed that they responded to a call about a shooting at around 8 p.m. local time.
Authorities referred to the situation as an “isolated incident” and have not made any arrests related to the shooting.
Family’s Grief and Statement
Following the incident, Dog Chapman and his wife, Francie Chapman, who is also Zecca’s mother, spoke out through a representative, expressing their profound grief over the loss.
‘We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony,” the statement read.
While representatives for Dog and Francie Chapman, as well as the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment, the family is clearly heartbroken by the loss of Anthony, a young life taken too soon.
The Background of Gregory Zecca
Gregory Zecca is Francie’s son from a previous marriage, and she and Dog Chapman married in 2021 after they found comfort in each other following the loss of their respective spouses.
Dog’s fifth wife, Beth Chapman, tragically passed away in June 2019 after a battle with cancer, leaving Dog to navigate grief while raising his large family.
Zecca, who works alongside Dog Chapman on his bounty hunting team, is deeply affected by this tragic event. His role in the bounty hunting profession, alongside his famous stepfather, highlights the close-knit relationship within the Chapman family.
Dog’s Family Tree and Personal Loss
This tragic event adds to the growing list of personal challenges that Dog the Bounty Hunter has faced. Dog Chapman is a father to 13 children from his various relationships.
He shares a son, Christopher, with Debbie White; sons Duane Lee II and Leeland with his ex-wife Fonda Sue Darnell; and sons Wesley, James Robert, and the late Zebadiah with Anne Tegnell.
Dog is also a father to Tucker, Lyssa, and the late Barbara with his ex-wife Lyssa Rae Brittain, and he shared Bonnie, Cecily, and Garry with his late wife Beth. In 2023, Dog revealed that he had recently discovered he fathered a son named Jon, further expanding his family.
A Family in Mourning
As the Chapman family processes this devastating loss, they are finding solace in one another, though the tragic nature of the incident has left them deeply mourning the loss of Anthony. The family has requested privacy as they navigate through this unimaginable grief.
The accidental death of 13-year-old Anthony Zecca has left the Chapman family devastated. With Dog Chapman and his wife, Francie, grappling with the loss of their beloved grandson, the family’s grief is shared by many who have followed the Chapmans’ journey through reality TV.
This tragic event underscores the fragile nature of life and the profound impact of family loss.
