The father of a teen killed at a Texas school event speaks out as a murder charge moves forward, adding new emotional weight to a closely watched case.
Karmelo Anthony, the teen accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet two months ago, has been indicted for first-degree murder.
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A Collin County grand jury formally charged him on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, after weeks of reviewing evidence, according to CBS News. Karmelo, now 18, was 17 at the time of the April 2 incident at Kuykendall Stadium.
Authorities allege an altercation between the two teens escalated into violence, resulting in Austin’s death. Karmelo was arrested that day and later released on a reduced bond under house arrest. Under Texas law, 17-year-olds are prosecuted as adults, and a conviction could lead to a sentence of five years to life in prison.
In a statement issued on April 9, Collin County District Attorney (DA) Greg Willis explained that Karmelo could not face the death penalty or life without parole due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2005 Roper v. Simmons ruling.
“The Supreme Court has said not only can you not seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they’re 17, you can’t even get them life without parole. That would not be something we could do even if we wanted to,” Greg said.
That same day, Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip addressed the impact of the tragedy on the school community. “Now more than ever, we must lean on one another. In the face of adversity, we will continue to stand together, with compassion, strength, and unwavering support for our students and each other,” he wrote in a letter to parents.
Following the first-degree murder indictment, Greg added that his office had spent several weeks presenting evidence to the grand jury. “When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core,” he said.
He stated further, “But the justice system works best when it moves with steadiness and with principle. That’s what we’re committed to. And that’s exactly what this case deserves.” In the wake of the indictment, both legal teams and the victim’s family responded publicly.
Karmelo’s attorney, Mike Howard, released a video statement expressing confidence in the legal process. “Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial,” he said. “Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court.”
Mike continued, “Because it’s only in a trial that the full story can be heard, and that impartial justice can be done.” They expect that once the full story is heard, the prosecution will be unable to eliminate reasonable doubt that Karmelo may have acted in self-defense.
Meanwhile, Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, acknowledged the grand jury’s decision while expressing the pain of his family’s loss.
“I am pleased that we are moving forward. With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system. I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back,” Jeff remarked.
As the legal process moves forward, additional case details — including firsthand police accounts and family recollections — reveal more about what happened that day and its lasting impact.
Karmelo directly admitted to police that he was responsible for the fatal stabbing of Austin, a Memorial High School student. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), when officers referred to him as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo responded with, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The affidavit states that Karmelo told a school resource officer on the scene, “I was protecting myself,” and “He put his hands on me,” claiming he acted in self-defense. Authorities report that he also asked officers if the incident could be considered self-defense and whether the victim would be okay.
Karmelo’s admission came shortly after the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on April 3, Thursday, at Kuykendall Stadium. According to an arrest affidavit, Karmelo had taken shelter under a pop-up tent belonging to another school as rain began to fall.
When he was asked to move, an altercation broke out between him and Austin, 17. A witness told police that Karmelo unzipped his bag, reached inside, and warned him, “Touch me and see what happens.” Moments later, Austin allegedly grabbed Karmelo, who then pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
A school resource officer from nearby Staley Middle School was the first to respond. Austin suffered a fatal wound to the heart. His father, Jeff, said his son died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter.
“They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” he recalled.
Jeff further explained that he rushed to the scene after learning about the stabbing. When he arrived, he found Austin on a gurney and was told his son wasn’t breathing. He described seeing a large amount of blood and the location of the wound. Deeply concerned, he searched for Hunter, and the two went together to the hospital.
There, the family prayed as doctors attempted to save his son’s life. Despite their efforts, Austin could not be revived. Jeff described the loss as part of “God’s plan,” though he said he didn’t understand it and called what happened “murder.”
Frisco Memorial junior Austin Metcalf was identified as the student killed in a stabbing at David Kuykendall Stadium on Wednesday. Frisco Centennial's Karmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. pic.twitter.com/mAb3iGg1Rz
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) April 2, 2025
Austin’s mother, Meghan, recalled rushing to the hospital as soon as Hunter called her. “My son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it,” she said. “He was the most amazing kid. So smart. He had college football guys looking at him to play in college. His goal was to play in college.”
Hunter remembered reacting immediately when the incident happened. He turned quickly to his brother and, though visibly emotional, chose not to describe the full scene. He shared that he did everything he could to help Austin in those critical moments.
Hunter said Austin “did everything” for their family. “As a linebacker, he was a stud, and I always tried to fill those shoes and play with him. I had a blast my whole life playing sports with him,” he remarked.
Although Austin was only four minutes older, Hunter said he always looked up to him, adding, “He was a big brother even though we’re the same age.”
Meghan shared the emotional weight of losing her son and spoke about how she and her family intend to carry his memory forward. “We just want to make sure that everybody knows how much Austin is still going to be in our lives as far as our memories and our hearts forever. It’s going to be really hard,” she explained.
In a joint statement released on April 4, Friday, Meghan and Hunter thanked the community for its overwhelming support. They said they would leave the investigation in the hands of detectives while focusing on commemorating Austin’s life and legacy.
The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign, titled “Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal,” where Austin’s dad, described him as a driven student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and a deep passion for football.
“We will all remember him for the way he impacted others’ lives. I love you forever, son. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad,” Jeff wrote. The campaign has raised $304,914 as of this writing.
On the day after the stabbing, Memorial High School paused during second period to honor Austin, as the community continued to rally around his grieving family.
Karmelo was charged with murder and remained in custody at the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond. His attorneys, Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, released their first public statement on Monday, April 7, expressing condolences to the Metcalf family and emphasizing his right to due process.
“Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost,” they said. “We are committed to ensuring that Karmelo’s rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system.”
They confirmed plans to work with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to seek a reduction of the bond and a re-evaluation of the charge. The attorneys also noted that Karmelo told police he acted in self-defense and asked whether the incident could be considered as such.
“This will certainly be a long road ahead and during this challenging time, we ask for prayers for both families and we ask for your patience and respect for the legal process as we seek the truth,” the lawyers stated.
Shortly after the incident, Karmelo’s family launched their own GiveSendGo campaign, titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund.” The page describes the circulating narrative as “false, unjust, and harmful,” and thanks supporters for their prayers and donations.
As of this writing, the fundraiser has collected $537,055 toward its $1,396,725 goal.
One donor, Stephanie Crutchfield, owner and CEO of multiple businesses, including Cutting Edge Tax Software and Crutchfield Taxes & Financial Solutions, contributed $1,000 and shared a public message of support, “Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County.
She added, “This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s [sic] more to this story. I’m praying 🙏🏾 for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help.”
If convicted of murder, Karmelo reportedly faces a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison under Texas law.
