Gregory Zecca, the 38-year-old stepson of Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman, has been arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter six months after the shooting death of his 13-year-old son, Anthony. The incident occurred on July 19, 2025, at a friend's apartment in Naples, Florida, where the pair were attending a UFC watch party.
According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Zecca was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he accidentally shot his son. Investigators stated that Zecca had been drinking heavily throughout the day and ingested marijuana while watching the fight. He was seen brandishing his firearm near his son, practising drawing it from his waistband and dry-firing with no magazine in the chamber.
At some point, the magazine was reinserted, and Zecca discharged a single shot that fatally struck Anthony. Police noted a strong smell of alcohol and marijuana in plain view upon arrival. Zecca's blood alcohol level was measured at 0.116, nearly twice Florida's legal limit.
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk described the incident as a 'heartbreaking and preventable tragedy'. He commended the detectives for their exhaustive investigation, which included witness statements, forensic testing, and search warrants. Zecca now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm and using a firearm while under the influence.
Chapman's attorney, Joseph Lesniak, stated that the incident remains a 'devastating family tragedy' and that Zecca loved his son deeply, asserting that it was a tragic accident. Zecca had been placed on a psychiatric hold shortly after the shooting due to concerns of self-harm. Chapman, who married Zecca's mother Francie Frane in 2021, has 13 other children.
