Gregory Zecca, the stepson of Dog the Bounty Hunter, has been placed on psychiatric hold after the fatal shooting of his son.
Anthony Zecca, 13, was the grandson of Dog’s wife, Francie Frane, and was reportedly fatally shot in the neck by his father in what authorities have described as a freak accident, per PEOPLE.
The incident occurred Saturday at around 8:00PM at the Naples, Florida, home of Anthony’s father, Gregory Zecca - Francie’s 38-year-old son.
A police spokesperson confirmed to The U.S. Sun that a criminal investigation has been launched, though no arrests have been made.
Officials are treating the incident as isolated and continue to gather details. According to law enforcement, Anthony was found dead at the apartment with the firearm used in the shooting discovered on the kitchen island.
First responders attempted to save the teen, performing CPR and other life-saving efforts, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
In a joint statement shared with TMZ, a spokesperson for Chapman and 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.”
As the investigation unfolds, PEOPLE reported that Gregory Zecca has been placed under a 5150 hold - a temporary psychiatric hold that allows authorities to detain an individual for 72 hours if they are considered a danger to themselves or others.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines the hold as a response to acute mental health crises. TMZ noted that concerns for Gregory’s mental well-being had mounted and that he has not been able to speak to his family or investigators.
Sources close to the family describe Gregory as an avid gun enthusiast. Social media photos showed Gregory and Anthony at a gun range, per the Sun.
In one image, the boy beams while wearing noise-canceling headphones, a firearm resting nearby. Another shows him aiming at a shooting target.
Anthony’s death has devastated the entire Chapman family. Gregory is Francie’s son from her previous marriage, and the teen had grown close with both his father and step-grandfather Duane 'Dog' Chapman.
The tragedy adds another painful chapter to Dog and Francie’s shared journey through loss and healing.
The couple, who married in 2021, first bonded over shared grief. Francie had lost her husband to cancer just six months before Beth Chapman - Dog’s wife of 13 years - also died from cancer in 2019.
In a 2020 interview, Dog reflected on their connection: “For a living, she’s a rancher and she recently lost her husband to cancer six months before I lost Beth. So we hopped on the phone, started talking to each other, crying and consoling each other and then one thing led to another. It’s just incredible that I’ve been able to meet someone like her.”
He added: “With Francie, I’m allowed to speak about Beth, we speak about her husband. We cry. We hold each other.”
Chapman, who has 13 children of his own, credited Francie with helping him regain purpose after Beth’s passing: “I am a fixer. I have to catch bad guys. I got to be at the top of my game. I can’t feel sorry for myself or guilty. I got to go out there and make a difference. That’s what I do for a living, so I’ve got to man up. She helps me do that.”