Dog the Bounty Hunter’s Stepson Arrested for Fatally Shooting His Son - Details

The devastating truth behind a family tragedy has finally come into focus — and it has left a community reeling.

Months after a teenage boy lost his life in a single, fatal gunshot, authorities have arrested Gregory Zecca, the stepson of reality television star Duane "Dog" Chapman, in connection with the heartbreaking death of his son, Anthony, inside a Naples, Florida home.

Arrest Follows Lengthy and Painful Investigation

News of the fatal shooting first broke last year. Now, officials say Zecca, 39, has been formally arrested and charged following an exhaustive investigation into what happened on the night of 19 July 2025.

According to authorities, Zecca was booked for seven months and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm and using a firearm while under the influence.

"This was a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy," Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk told The Sun.

Sheriff Details Troubling Chain of Events

Rambosk said detectives conducted an "exhaustive and thorough investigation," reviewing witness statements, forensic evidence, subpoenas, search warrants, and toxicology findings.

"I commend their hard work and professionalism in uncovering the facts in an incredibly difficult case," the sheriff said.

The aggravated manslaughter charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison. According to the sheriff's office, Zecca had spent several hours consuming alcohol at a local establishment before purchasing additional alcohol later that evening.

Investigators say he went on to consume both alcohol and marijuana at a friend's home, where he and his teenage son had settled in to watch a UFC fight on television.

While at the residence, police say Zecca repeatedly handled a firearm in front of the boy, allegedly drawing it from his waistband and dry-firing as if rehearsing a scene — a chilling detail that would later become central to the case.

At one point, investigators noted that Zecca had "rendered the firearm safe" by removing the magazine and ejecting a live round from the chamber. But those safety measures did not last.

A Single Shot That Changed Everything

Police later stated that "at some point, the magazine was reinserted and a round chambered, and Zecca discharged a single shot, fatally striking the child."

Emergency responders raced to the scene, only to find a heartbreaking reality. Officers also immediately detected the smell of alcohol on Zecca's breath.

Search warrants were swiftly executed for medical records and a blood draw. A toxicology expert later estimated Zecca's blood-alcohol concentration at the time of the shooting to be approximately 0.116 — well over Florida's legal limit of 0.08.

As a result, the toxicologist concluded Zecca was impaired.

'A Devastating Tragedy'

"This case underscores that devastating tragedy that can result from mixing firearms, alcohol and drugs," Sheriff Rambosk said. "Our hearts are with everyone affected by this loss."

Police were first called to the Naples apartment at 8:08 p.m. Investigators said that by the time deputies arrived, Anthony had already lost "large amounts of blood."

First responders attempted to save the teenager using CPR, chest compressions, and other emergency measures — but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Anthony was pronounced dead at 10:21 p.m.

Disturbing Details Emerge After the Shooting

Following the incident, deputies noted that Zecca was found wearing an empty holster secured to his waistband.

Authorities also confirmed that Zecca is a known firearm enthusiast. In 2021, he shared images on social media showing himself and his son together at a shooting range.

The images have since taken on a tragic new meaning.

Dog the Bounty Hunter Breaks His Silence

Zecca is the son of Francie Chapman, Dog's wife, from a previous marriage. The couple married in 2021 after bonding over the loss of their former spouses.

Following the shooting, Dog and his family released a poignant statement describing the death as an "incomprehensible accident." The family has not commented publicly since Zecca's arrest.