Harrowing new details have emerged in the shooting death of Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman’s grandson aged just 13.
Anthony Zecca tragically lost his life when his father, Gregory, 38, mistakenly shot him. This incident took place on Saturday evening in their family’s Naples apartment. Gregory is the son of Francie, Chapman’s wife.
The bullet struck Zecca on the neck, just above the sternum, but did not exit, according to a report from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, which was obtained by DailyMail.com.
By the time law enforcement arrived, Zecca had suffered significant blood loss. Despite receiving CPR, chest compressions, and a chest seal, efforts to save the teenager were, unfortunately, unsuccessful.
Deputies were dispatched at 8:08pm ET to the scene – with Zecca pronounced dead at 8:21pm ET.
The firearm used in the shooting was on the kitchen island when deputies arrived.
Harrowing new details have emerged in the shooting death of Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman’s grandson Anthony Zecca aged just 13 Anthony is the son of Gregory Zecca, who is Beth Chapman’s son from a previous marriage (the family are pictured in 2022)
Anthony was accidentally shot and killed by his own father, Gregory, 38 at their family apartment in Naples on Saturday evening – Zecca is pictured in 2021
A spokesman for the The Collier County Sheriff’s Office told DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘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.
Gregory – who is Francie’s son from a previous marriage – reportedly collaborates with his stepfather Duane on his bounty hunting team.
He is notably a gun enthusiast. Back in 2021, he proudly shared photos of himself and his late son ‘getting some range time in’ with their rifles.
Gregory has now disabled his social media accounts.
Duane and Francie, 56, who is his sixth wife, addressed the terrible loss in a statement.
They shared: ‘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.’
Chapman is pictured with wife Francie
DailyMail.com requested comment from Duane’s representative but hasn’t yet received a response.
Last year, Anthony spent the summer with his grandparents and told a story about how he felt the wind of the Holy Spirit while visiting his ‘Meemaw’ in the hospital ER in 2023 after she injured her ankle.
Anthony and Duane sat on a bench in the waiting room when he suddenly felt a gush of cold wind blowing in from outside even though it was a warm, rainy day.
‘When we’re walking to her room I feel the wind again but from a different direction. When it first came, it hit me [on my chest]. But when it came again, it hit me from the back,’ the Christian child marveled.
‘And I’m wondering what is this? Because the doors didn’t open this time, so why am I getting hit by wind? [It was] the Holy Spirit. And I asked Meemaw and she said, “It was the Holy Spirit.”‘
Francie had been feeling miserable but ‘after X-rays and after we prayed, we go back into the room and she’s just fine. She said, “This don’t even hurt anymore.” And it turned out to not be broken.’
Zecca, 38 — who is Francie’s son from a prior marriage — reportedly collaborates with his stepfather Duane on his bounty hunting team (pictured in 2021)
Notably, Chapman’s son is a gun enthusiast. Back in 2021, he proudly shared photos of himself and his late son ‘getting some range time in’ with their rifles
Despite the horrific nature of Anthony’s death, local law enforcement is calling the freak accident an ‘isolated incident,’ and no arrests have been made (pictured in 2021)
Chapman and his 56-year-old wife — his sixth — addressed the terrible loss in a statement: ‘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’ (pictured in 2024)
One year ago, little Anthony spent the summer with his grandparents and told a story about how he felt the wind of the Holy Spirit while visiting his ‘Meemaw’ in the hospital ER in 2023 after she injured her ankle (pictured in 2024)
Aside from artillery and Jesus, little Anthony also enjoyed dancing to Usher and attending local Comic Con conventions where he posed with Predator.
The Chapmans — who began dating in 2020 — first bonded over their shared grief about being widowed.
Duane suffered the loss of his fifth wife Beth Smith in 2019 to stage II throat cancer and Francie suffered the loss of her husband Bob Frane in 2018.
‘We understood the pain that the other one was feeling, and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up,’ she told ET in 2020.
‘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.’
The mourning couple will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary on September 2.
