Dog the Bounty Hunter’s Family Shattered by Accidental Shooting
Oh, this should be good. Avery Sinclair reporting.
Duane “Dog” Chapman is now grappling with a nightmare no one would wish on their worst enemy after his stepson, Gregory Zecca, accidentally shot and killed his own 13-year-old son, Anthony, on July 19 in Naples, Florida. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that a call about a shooting came in around 8 p.m., and investigators have classified the tragedy as an isolated, unintentional incident.
According to a statement obtained by TMZ, representatives for Chapman and his wife, Francie Frane, said, “We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident, and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony.” No arrests have been made so far as the Naples Police Department continues its probe. E! News reached out to both local authorities and the family’s spokespeople but has not received any updates beyond the initial statement.
For those who thought Dog’s life was drama-proof after his reality TV days, think again. The 70-year-old reality star—who has fathered 13 children and rose to fame tracking down bail jumpers—found new hope when he married Francie in 2021. She herself had lost her husband to cancer just months before Chapman lost his wife, Beth Chapman, to the same disease. Their friendship, born from mutual grief, quickly blossomed into something more, as Chapman revealed during a May 2020 appearance on TMZ Live.
“She’s a rancher by trade, and she lost her husband to cancer six months before I lost Beth,” Chapman explained. “We got on the phone, cried together, and the rest is history. With Francie, I can talk about Beth. We cry and hold each other when we need to.” It was a storyline that reality TV whispers would approve of—grieving hearts finding comfort in each other—but even the best scripts can’t predict real-life heartbreak.
Investigators have yet to disclose how the weapon discharged or if any negligence charges might be on the horizon. Public records show Naples PD is treating the incident with its typical thoroughness, classifying the shooting as accidental until proven otherwise. Chapman’s camp has urged the media and fans to respect the family’s privacy while they navigate this unfathomable loss.
This tragic accident comes nearly three years after Chapman’s reality show success and media prominence peaked. As a self-proclaimed “fixer” who once said, “I’ve got to go out there and make a difference,” Dog now faces a crisis that no bail or bounty can straighten out. His large brood and growing fanbase will be watching closely to see how he handles grief outside the glare of reality TV lights.
So there you have it – a family already scarred by loss now forced to endure another devastating blow. Keep your notifications on for any new developments, because this story is far from over.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
