A tragic shooting inside a southwest Florida home has led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man whose family connection to television personality Duane “Dog” Chapman has drawn national attention. Authorities say the man is now facing the possibility of life in prison after investigators concluded that his actions led to the death of his 13-year-old son.
The incident occurred in July 2025 at a residence in Naples, Florida. According to law enforcement officials, the father and son were at home together on the night of the shooting. Investigators determined that the teenager was fatally shot while inside the residence. Emergency responders arrived at the scene after receiving reports of a gunshot, but the child could not be saved.
The man arrested in connection with the case is Gregory Zecca, the stepson of Duane Chapman, widely known as Dog the Bounty Hunter from his long-running reality television career. While the family’s public profile has intensified media coverage, authorities have emphasized that the case centers on the circumstances of the shooting and the evidence gathered during a months-long investigation.
Detectives reported that Zecca had been consuming alcohol for several hours prior to the shooting and that marijuana was also present in the home. According to the investigation, he had been handling a firearm and practicing drawing it in front of his son. Although the weapon had reportedly been cleared earlier in the evening, authorities determined that the magazine was reinserted at some point. During continued handling of the firearm, it discharged, striking the 13-year-old.
Investigators noted the smell of alcohol at the scene and later conducted toxicology testing. Officials estimated that Zecca’s blood alcohol concentration was approximately 0.116 at the time of the incident, exceeding Florida’s legal limit of 0.08 for operating a motor vehicle. While the legal threshold pertains specifically to driving, prosecutors have pointed to impairment as a central factor in the criminal charges filed.
Following the shooting, Zecca was initially hospitalized and placed under psychiatric evaluation. Law enforcement agencies continued their investigation over the course of several months, reviewing forensic evidence, toxicology results, and witness statements before presenting the case to prosecutors.
In February 2026, authorities formally arrested Zecca and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm, along with using a firearm while under the influence. Under Florida law, aggravated manslaughter of a child is a first-degree felony and carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison if a conviction is secured.
Court records indicate that the case will proceed through the Florida judicial system, where prosecutors must prove that the defendant’s actions demonstrated culpable negligence resulting in the child’s death. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the shooting was accidental, though impairment and firearm handling remain central elements of the state’s case.
The tragedy has reverberated beyond the immediate legal proceedings due to the family’s public ties. Duane Chapman, who rose to national prominence through reality television programs documenting his work as a bounty hunter, has faced prior personal losses and legal challenges within his extended family. This latest development has again placed the family in the national spotlight, though the criminal case remains focused on the events inside the Naples home.
Legal experts note that cases involving firearms and impairment often hinge on whether prosecutors can establish reckless disregard for safety. The presence of a loaded weapon, combined with alleged impairment and handling of the firearm in close proximity to a minor, will likely form the backbone of the prosecution’s argument.
As the case moves forward, the focus remains on the loss of a young life and the legal accountability that may follow. Court hearings are expected in the coming weeks as the judicial process unfolds, determining whether the charges will ultimately result in conviction and what penalties, if any, will be imposed under Florida law.