Gregory Zecca, the stepson of US television personality Duane Chapman, known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child following the death of his 13-year-old son last July, Florida authorities said Tuesday.
The 39-year-old, who is the son of Chapman’s wife Francie Frane, was arrested after an investigation into the shooting on 13 July. Deputies from Collier County Sheriff’s Office said Zecca had consumed alcohol and marijuana before repeatedly handling a firearm in his son’s presence.
The sheriff’s office said Zecca initially made the weapon safe by removing the magazine and clearing a live round from the chamber. However, he later reinserted the magazine and chambered a round, firing a single shot that fatally struck the boy. A toxicology report estimated Zecca’s blood-alcohol concentration was above Florida’s legal limit and concluded he was impaired by alcohol.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk described the incident as a “heartbreaking and preventable tragedy”, adding that his detectives conducted an exhaustive investigation. The charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child carries a potential life sentence.
Chapman’s attorney Joseph Lesniak said the family believes the shooting was a tragic accident, and that Zecca loved his son deeply. The case highlights the dangers of mixing firearms with alcohol and drugs, officials said.
