Shocking Accident: Inside the Heartbreaking Tragedy That Tore Dog the Bounty Hunter’s Family Apart

Sometimes, life throws curveballs so unexpected and heartbreaking, you’re left wondering if the universe hit shuffle on tragedy. That’s exactly the gut-wrenching scene that unfolded recently in sunny Naples, Florida, where Gregory Zecca—yes, the stepson of reality TV’s very own Duane ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ Chapman—accidentally shot his 13-year-old son, Anthony, in what the family is calling a “tragic accident.” You can’t help but ask: How does a moment like this happen in a family known for hunting down trouble? This story digs deeper into the shocking details, the ongoing investigation, and the ripple effect on a family already no stranger to grief and resilience. It’s a painful reminder that sometimes, the biggest battles happen at home—and no one walks away unscathed. LEARN MORE

Further details have emerged about the tragic death of Duane ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ Chapman’s 13-year-old step-grandson.

Horror struck on Saturday evening (19 July) in Naples, Florida, when Gregory Zecca – the son of Chapman’s wife, Francie Frane – accidentally shot and killed his son, Anthony.

The incident, which the family have described as a ‘tragic accident’, unfolded in Zecca’s apartment.

According to a police report, cops were called to the home at around 8pm and officers found the 13-year-old boy with a fatal gunshot wound, The US Sun reports.

Anthony’s neck had been pierced by a bullet which struck him above his sternum, but there was reportedly no exit wound.

Heartbreakingly, Anthony had reportedly lost ‘large amounts of blood’ before officers from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrived.

Francie and Dog pictured with Anthony, 13, who sadly passed away on Saturday (Instagram/franciedogchapman)

Emergency responders administered CPR and other life-saving measures in a bid to save the teen, but it was unfortunately too late and he was later pronounced dead at 10.21pm.

The gun which fired the fatal bullet was found on the kitchen island in Zecca’s apartment, according to reports. The dad was found with an empty holster in his waistband.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office told E! News that a ‘death investigation’ is now underway with regards to the incident.

No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed, as of now.

In a statement shared with the outlet, police said: “The call came into our dispatch at 8:08 p.m. This was an isolated incident.

“Our detectives are conducting a thorough investigation looking into all the elements of this tragic incident. The investigation includes statements from witnesses who were at the scene, forensic testing, subpoenas, and search warrants.”

A spokesperson for Chapman, 72, – who shot to fame as a bounty hunter after successfully capturing Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster in 2003 – and his wife shared a brief statement on behalf of the family.

It stated: “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 couple shared a brief statement regarding the ‘incomprehensible tragic accident’ which has rocked their family (Instagram/@franciedogchapman)

Reports suggest that Chapman’s stepson Zecca was a member of his bounty hunting team, while Instagram posts show he took Anthony to a shooting range in 2021.

Father-of-13 Chapman got hitched to Frane in 2021 following the deaths of their respective spouses, with the pair connecting over their shared experience of grief.

Speaking of how their love blossomed, the bounty hunter’s wife told Entertainment Tonight in 2020: “We understood the pain that the other one was feeling and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up.

“We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling. We were able to walk alongside each other through the pain and heartbreak and it brought us together in this amazing way.”

Chapman himself shared a similar sentiment while discussing how he and Frane got together on TMZ Live in May 2020.

The reality TV star said: “For a living, she’s a rancher and she recently lost her husband to cancer six months before I lost Beth Chapman.

“So we hopped on the phone, started talking to each other, crying and consoling each other and then one thing led to another and it’s just incredible that I’ve been able to meet someone like her.

“With Francie, I’m allowed to speak about Beth, we speak about her husband. We cry. We hold each other.”

Chapman’s fifth wife, Beth, passed away in June 2019 after being diagnosed with stage two throat cancer.

LADbible Group has contacted Chapman’s representatives for comment.