Dog the Bounty Hunters grandson, 13, accidentally shot by father

In a heartbreaking accident that has left the Chapman family reeling, thirteen‑year‑old Anthony Zecca—Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman’s step‑grandson—was shot and killed by his own father on the evening of July 19 in Naples, Florida. The shooting, which occurred shortly before 8 p.m. inside a local apartment, remains under investigation, and no charges have yet been filed.

According to law-enforcement sources, Gregory Zecca—Anthony’s father and Francie Chapman’s son from her first marriage—allegedly discharged a firearm accidentally during an altercation in the home. Paramedics pronounced Anthony dead at the scene, and investigators continue to piece together the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy. Neighbors described hearing shouting followed by a single gunshot; one resident told reporters, “It sounded like a terrible accident, then silence.”

The Chapmans released a joint statement through their representative, saying: “We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we mourn the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony.” Duane and Francie Chapman, who married in 2021 after both enduring profound losses of their late spouses—Francie’s husband Bob and Duane’s wife Beth each succumbed to cancer—have once again been thrust into unimaginable sorrow.

Francie, who shared Anthony with Bob, and Duane found solace in one another’s company following their respective bereavements. “We understood the pain the other was feeling,” Francie told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. “In those tough days, we helped each other stand up. We could cry together and talk about what we were feeling. It brought us together in this amazing way.” She often spoke of keeping Bob’s and Beth’s memories alive, saying, “We’re never going to leave Bob and Beth behind or forget them. They’ll always be a part of us.”

Duane Chapman, a television personality known for his long career in bail enforcement and the A&E series Dog the Bounty Hunter, has navigated personal tragedy before. Father to thirteen children—including a son he publicly acknowledged only in 2023—Duane has weathered public scrutiny of his complicated family life and multiple marriages. Yet nothing, he has said, could prepare him for the loss of a grandson under such tragic circumstances.

Friends and fans have flooded social media with messages of condolence. A fellow bounty hunter wrote, “I can’t imagine this pain—holding you in my prayers, Dog.” Community members in Naples have organized a vigil, laying candles and handwritten notes outside the apartment building where Anthony died. Local clergy are offering grief counseling, and the Chapmans have asked for privacy while they cope with their devastating loss.

As the police investigation proceeds, the Chapman family remains united in mourning. They have asked the public to respect their need for space during this time of profound sorrow and to keep Anthony’s memory alive through prayer and support for families affected by gun accidents. For Duane and Francie Chapman, the question now is how to move forward after yet another tragic chapter—this time, in a story neither of them ever saw coming.