In an official statement, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed:
“The call came into our dispatch at 8:08 p.m. This was an isolated incident. Our detectives are conducting a thorough investigation looking into all the elements of this tragic incident, including witness statements, forensic testing, subpoenas, and search warrants.”
Gregory Zecca, who has reportedly worked with his stepfather Duane Chapman as part of his bounty hunting operations, is known to be a firearm enthusiast. In 2021, he proudly shared photos on social media of himself and his son participating in shooting range activities. Following Saturday’s tragedy, Gregory has since deactivated his social media accounts.
Family Devastated by “Incomprehensible” Loss
Duane Chapman and his wife Francie, who have both suffered the loss of previous spouses, released a joint statement addressing the devastating death of their grandson:
“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.”
Representatives for Chapman have not yet issued additional comments.
Anthony had recently spent last summer with his grandparents and shared a deeply spiritual moment that left a lasting impression on the family. According to a story recounted by Anthony, he felt what he believed to be the Holy Spirit while visiting Francie — affectionately known as “Meemaw” — in the ER after she injured her ankle.
“When we’re walking to her room I feel the wind again but from a different direction,” Anthony recalled at the time. “When it first came, it hit me in the chest. But when it came again, it hit me from the back… [It was] the Holy Spirit.”
The moment, as remembered by Francie and Anthony, was followed by what they called a miraculous recovery — her injury, initially painful, turned out not to be serious.
Anthony was described as a joyful, faith-driven boy who loved dancing to Usher, attending local Comic-Con events, and spending time with family. Photos showed him proudly posing with cosplayers dressed as iconic sci-fi characters like Predator.
A Family That Found Love Through Grief
Duane and Francie Chapman first met in 2020, both reeling from the deaths of their respective spouses. Duane’s fifth wife, Beth Smith, passed away in 2019 from stage II throat cancer, while Francie lost her husband Bob Frane in 2018.
Their shared experience of grief became the foundation of their bond.
“We understood the pain the other one was feeling,” Francie told Entertainment Tonight in 2020. “In those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up.”
Now, as they prepare to mark their fourth wedding anniversary this September, the couple finds themselves enveloped in unimaginable sorrow — mourning a life taken far too soon in a family already familiar with heartache.
As the investigation continues, authorities have not filed charges and have described the shooting as accidental. The family is asking for privacy and prayers as they navigate this period of profound loss.