In a tragic turn of events, the step-grandson of Duane Chapman, popularly known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter" from the reality TV series, was fatally shot on Saturday night.
The incident, which unfolded at the family's residence in Naples, Florida, is being described as an accidental shooting.
According to Western Journal, the unfortunate event involved Gregory Zecca, the son of Chapman's current wife, Francie. Zecca is alleged to have accidentally caused the death of his son, Anthony. However, the specifics surrounding the incident remain unclear. TMZ, the first to report the incident, stated, "Law enforcement confirms to us they responded to a call about a shooting around 8 p.m. ET. They havent made any arrests and call this an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing."
Gregory Zecca became Chapman's stepson in 2021 when Chapman married Francie, following the death of their respective spouses. Francie, reflecting on their union, told the Naples Daily News in 2023, It was God using us to change peoples lives. It was this love story that God brought us together.
Chapman's previous wife, Beth Chapman, was a well-known figure in her own right. She was a co-star and sidekick on the hit A&E reality show and was married to Chapman in 2006. Beth passed away from metastatic throat cancer in 2019 in Hawaii, where the show and the couple's bounty-hunting business were based.
Gregory Zecca, like other members of the family, was part of the bounty-hunting team. This included Duane's daughter with another ex-wife, Lyssa. The family, in a statement, expressed their grief over the tragic accident, saying, 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. They requested privacy as they navigate through this difficult time.
Chapman's rise to fame was unconventional. He first gained recognition from a minor role in a show called Take This Job, another A&E show that spotlighted people with unusual occupations. His past as a convicted drug-dealer and murderer added to his appeal.
Chapman shared with Fox News that his time in prison ironically led to his career in bounty hunting. He said, While I was in prison, I became the wardens barber, so that means all the guards were my friends. One guy went to break and run one day, an inmate, and I jumped him and just the guards were going to shoot him in the back. And as the guard walked up when I was on top of the inmate apprehending him, and he threw down the handcuffs and said, Hook him up, bounty hunter. That is what started the career.
The original Dog the Bounty Hunter aired from 2004 until 2012, with several spinoffs running until 2019. Chapman, now 72, has 13 biological children in addition to his stepson with Francie. As the family grapples with this tragic loss, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
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