A CRIMINAL investigation has been opened for Dog The Bounty Hunter’s stepson after the apparent accidental shooting death of his teenage son.
What began as a death inquiry has become a full blown criminal investigation into the death of 13-year-old Anthony Zecca, Dog’s grandson, after he was fatally shot by his dad on Saturday, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
A source close to the case confirmed, “this an active criminal investigation.”
In Florida on Saturday around 8:08 pm, the reality star’s step-son shot and killed Dog’s step-grandson – in what has been reported as a tragic accident.
The incident happened at his father Gregory Zecca’s apartment in Naples.
The sheriff’s office said that by the time they had arrived on scene on Saturday, Anthony had lost “large amounts of blood.”
Emergency personnel tried to save the teen using CPR, chest compressions and other life-saving measures but they were unable to save him.
The teenager was officially pronounced dead at 10:21 pm.
The firearm involved in the shooting was discovered on the kitchen island inside the apartment.
Despite the turn in the investigation, there have been no arrests as of this writing.
Collier County Sheriff deputies reported that Gregory Zecca, Anthony’s father, was found with an empty holster in his waistband.
Gregory, who is the son of Dog’s wife Francie from her previous marriage, is known to be a gun enthusiast.
In 2021, he shared photos on social media of himself and his son spending time at a shooting range with their rifle.
Dog, whose real name is Duane Lee Chapman, and his family issued a heartbreaking statement, describing the incident as an “incomprehensible accident.”
In a statement to TMZ, the family 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.”
Dog and his wife, Francie, tied the knot in 2021 after both had endured the loss of their previous partners.
DOG’S FAMILY TRAGEDIES
The couple revealed that their shared experiences of grief brought them closer during their relationship.
The 72-year-old bounty hunter and TV star has faced numerous family tragedies, including the loss of two of his children.
One of Dog’s three children with his second wife, Anne Tegnell, died shortly after birth.
In 2006, his 23-year-old daughter, Barbara, died in a car accident while driving a stolen SUV in Alaska.
Barbara was one of Dog’s three children from his brief marriage to his third wife, Lyssa Britain.
In June 2019, Dog’s fifth wife, Alice Elizabeth “Beth” Barmore, died following a battle with throat cancer.
