Dog the Bounty Hunter’s stepson arrested 6 months after accidentally shooting, killing his teen son
The stepson of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman was arrested Tuesday, more than six months after he accidentally shot and killed his teenage son while reportedly under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, according to authorities.
Gregory Anthony Zecca, 39, faces charges of aggravated manslaughter after fatally shooting his 13-year-old son, Anthony, during a UFC watch party at a friend’s apartment in Naples, Florida, on July 19, law enforcement said. Officers with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office took Zecca into custody early Tuesday after a six-month investigation determined he had been intoxicated at the time of the shooting.
According to a sheriff’s office news release, Zecca had been drinking heavily throughout the day and later consumed marijuana while watching the fight with his son. During the gathering, Zecca reportedly brandished a firearm near Anthony multiple times, including “practicing drawing it from his waistband and dry-firing” without a magazine in the chamber. At one point, a magazine was inserted, and Zecca discharged a single shot, striking Anthony fatally.
When authorities arrived, they noted a strong odor of alcohol and observed marijuana in plain view. Tests showed Zecca’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.116 — nearly twice Florida’s legal limit. “This case underscores the devastating tragedy that can result from mixing firearms, alcohol, and drugs. Our hearts are with everyone affected by this loss,” said Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
Following the shooting, Zecca was placed on a psychiatric hold amid concerns from his family that he might attempt to harm himself if left alone. It is unclear when he was released from the psychiatric facility.
Zecca now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm and using a firearm while under the influence. The aggravated manslaughter charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison.
Chapman’s attorney described the incident as a heartbreaking family tragedy. “We believe Greg loved his son deeply, and that this was a tragic accident — one that has left many lives permanently changed, especially Anthony’s, and Greg’s,” attorney Joseph Lesniak said in a statement to TMZ.
Chapman married Zecca’s mother, Francie Frane, in 2021, shortly after both lost their previous spouses to cancer. The families connected through their shared Christian faith, experiences of grief, and Chapman’s gun-related bounty hunter lifestyle.
Zecca had previously joined Chapman’s bounty hunting team and posted images of himself and Anthony practicing at gun ranges.
Chapman has 13 other children with six different women, including four former wives. In September, Chapman’s 24-year-old son Garry, a police officer, was briefly fired after a high-speed chase in Alabama resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy. Garry was reinstated on October 13 following a $10 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the Priceville Police Department.
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