The family of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a student-athlete accused of fatally stabbing a track club rival, has raised $245,000 through a fundraising campaign. Anthony was arrested following an altercation at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, where he allegedly stabbed fellow teen Austin Metcalf during a dispute. According to Metcalf’s family, the confrontation began after he told Anthony he was sitting in the wrong chair during a school football game.
Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the chest, fatally wounding him and leaving him in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter, as he died.
In a statement on their fundraising page, Anthony’s family disputed the public account of the incident, calling the narrative “false, unjust, and harmful.” As of Tuesday afternoon, their campaign had raised $245,000 toward a $300,000 goal.
Meanwhile, a separate fundraiser for Metcalf’s family has garnered $292,000. On the page, Jeff Metcalf remembered his son as “a bright young man with a great future ahead of him,” praising his leadership, 4.0 GPA, and passion for football.
“He was a leader of men. His smile would light up the room,” he wrote. “I love you forever, son.”
Here’s a more polished and neutral rewrite of that sentence:
The family of Karmelo Anthony (pictured), the student-athlete accused of fatally stabbing a fellow track competitor, has raised $245,000 through their online fundraising campaign.
Let me know if you want a version that’s more emotional, dramatic, or journalistic!
Austin Metcalf, 17, was fatally stabbed last week, allegedly by a fellow member of his track club.
The fatal incident occurred at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on Wednesday.
An arrest report states that the confrontation began when Metcalf told Anthony he was sitting under another team’s pop-up tent and asked him to move.
The two students then got into a physical altercation, during which Anthony unzipped his bag and reportedly said, “Touch me and see what happens.”
According to the report, Metcalf grabbed Anthony to get him to move, at which point Anthony pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
Anthony allegedly fled the scene but was later apprehended by responding officers.
He reportedly told a school resource officer, “I was protecting myself,” and, “He put his hands on me.”
Anthony also asked police whether his actions could be considered self-defense and inquired if the victim was going to be okay, according to the report.
He has been charged with murder and, if convicted, could face between five and 99 years in prison.
Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, was by his side and held him in his arms as he died.
“I tried to whip around as fast as I could,” Hunter told WFAA. “I looked at my brother and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.”
Hunter then called their parents, who rushed to the scene but found Austin unresponsive.
“I could see all the blood, and I saw where the wound was, and I was very concerned, so I had to find his brother, and we rushed to the hospital,” Jeff Metcalf said. “And we prayed, and it’s God’s plan, I don’t understand it, but they weren’t able to save him. This is murder.
The family of Karmelo Anthony (pictured), the student-athlete accused of fatally stabbing his track club rival, has received $245,000 through their fundraising page.
Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, held him in his arms and attempted to stop the bleeding following the stabbing on Wednesday.
Seventeen-year-old high school senior Anthony admitted to fatally stabbing Metcalf during a track meet.
The track meet was suspended following the tragic incident, and the stadium was “immediately secured,” according to Frisco officials.
Metcalf, a junior, was a standout football player at Frisco’s Memorial High School with aspirations of becoming a college athlete.
His father, Jeff, questioned Anthony’s upbringing but also expressed that he had already forgiven the alleged killer.
“I’m not trying to judge, but what kind of parents did this child have? What was he taught?” he said.
“He brought a knife to a track meet and murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart.”
“The guy was in the wrong place, and they asked him to move, and he became angry and aggressive…”
“You know what, I already forgive this person. Already. God takes care of things. God is going to take care of me. God is going to take care of my family,” he added.
The grieving father also expressed sympathy for Anthony’s family.
Metcalf was a standout football player at Frisco’s Memorial High School and had plans to pursue a career as a college athlete.
Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, stated that he has already forgiven his son’s alleged killer.
“I feel for [the suspect’s] family because now their son will end up in prison and realize that he killed someone, and he devastated and killed my son, who I can never get back. It’s unfortunate for everyone involved,” Jeff said.
Anthony, a senior, is also a standout player on the Centennial High School football team.
He is currently being held at Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) expressed its sadness over the tragic event, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that took place at the District 11-5A track meet on April 2 at Frisco ISD’s Kuykendall Stadium.”
“UIL staff is in communication with district officials to provide support and assistance during this time. Our thoughts go out to those impacted,” the statement continued.
