The stepson of Duane “Canine the Bounty Hunter” Chapman was arrested on Tuesday — greater than six months after he unintentionally shot and killed his teenage son whereas inebriated and marijuana, police mentioned.
Gregory Anthony Zecca, 39, was charged with aggravated manslaughter after he mistakenly shot and killed his 13-year-old son, Anthony, at a UFC watch celebration at a buddy’s condominium in Naples, Florida on July 19, in keeping with cops.
Officers with the Collier County Sheriff’s Workplace took Zecca into custody early Tuesday after their six-month lengthy investigation revealed he was allegedly drunk and excessive when he shot his son.
Police mentioned in a information launch that Zecca was consuming closely all through the day and, ultimately, ingested marijuana whereas he and his son had been watching the UFC combat.
Whereas they had been there, Zecca brandished his firearm close to his son a number of instances, together with “training drawing it from his waistband and dry-firing” with no journal within the chamber, the discharge mentioned.
Sooner or later, although, the journal was inserted again into the chamber. Zecca then “discharged a single shot, fatally putting” Anthony, police mentioned.
When police responded to the capturing, they instantly famous a pungent stench of alcohol and noticed marijuana laid out “in plain view.”
Officers examined Zecca’s blood alcohol degree, which had reached a staggering 0.116 — practically two instances the authorized restrict in Florida.
“This case underscores that devastating tragedy that may end result from mixing firearms, alcohol and medicines. Our hearts are with everybody affected by this loss,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk mentioned.
After the deadly capturing, Zecca was positioned on a psychiatric maintain as his household mentioned they had been involved he would try to take his personal life if left unattended.
It’s unclear when he might have been discharged from the psychiatric facility.
Zecca was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a kid with a firearm and utilizing a firearm whereas below the affect. The aggravated manslaughter cost alone may land him in jail for all times.
Chapman’s legal professional mentioned that the state of affairs “stays a devastating household tragedy.”
“We imagine Greg beloved his son deeply, and that this was a tragic accident — one which has left many lives completely modified, particularly Anthony’s, and Greg’s,” legal professional Joseph Lesniak mentioned in an announcement to TMZ.
Chapman married Zecca’s mom, Francie Frane, in 2021 shortly after the couple misplaced their respective spouses to most cancers.
The 2 households bonded over their shared Christian religion, grief journeys and Chapman’s gun-toting bounty hunter way of life.
Zecca even joined Chapman’s bounty workforce and shared numerous posts of himself and Anthony training at gun ranges.
Chapman has 13 different kids between six completely different ladies, 4 of whom had been earlier wives.
In September, Chapman’s cop son, 24-year-old Garry Chapman, was briefly fired for his involvement in a high-speed chase that killed a 17-year-old boy in Alabama.
Gary was reinstated on Oct. 13 after he filed a $10 million wrongful termination lawsuit towards the Priceville Police Division.
