Dog the Bounty Hunter’s stepson has reportedly accidentally shot and killed his own 13-year-old son.
The tragic event took place over the weekend when Gregory Zecca, the son of Francie Chapman, is said to have fatally shot his teenage son named Anthony.
Zecca is the stepson of Francie's current partner Duane Chapman, better known for his TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter.
According to reports, the shooting was an accident, and took place in their Naples, Florida apartment on Saturday (19 July). Police has since confirmed that the incident took place around 8 pm and described it as an 'isolated incident', as per TMZ.
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At the time of writing, the investigation is ongoing and it doesn't seem as though any arrests have been made yet.
Francie's representatives have since released a statement to TMZ following the horrific ordeal.
It reads: "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."
Francie and Duane tied the knot back in 2021. Duane has been married six times and has fathered 13 children from his previous relationships.
In 2019, Duane's wife of 13 years, Beth, passed away from cancer. Francie's husband, Bob, had also died from cancer just six months before Beth's passing.
Opening up about how their grief brought them together as a couple, Francie told Entertainment Tonight back in 2020: "We understood the pain that the other one was feeling and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up.
"We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling. We were able to walk alongside each other through the pain and heartbreak and it brought us together in this amazing way."
Speaking of both her and Duane's late spouses, Francie added: "We're never going to leave Bob and Beth behind [or] forget about them. They'll always be a part of us. We thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives with them and that's not what happened and we were dealt a really hard hand."
Tyla has reached out to Duane Chapman's representatives for further comment on the matter.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Rhiannon Ingle