A tragic and divisive case has rocked a Texas community, sparking intense debates both locally and online. Andrew Anthony, father of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, is speaking out with raw emotion, urging the public to look beyond sensational headlines and understand the full scope of the situation. In an interview with The New York Post, Andrew defended his son, who has been accused of fatally stabbing a fellow student, insisting that Karmelo is not the violent criminal the media has portrayed. “Everyone’s already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be,” he said. “He’s a good kid. He works two jobs and has a 3.7 GPA.” Despite the ongoing controversy, Karmelo’s family has launched a fundraiser on GiveSendGo, which has already raised over $143,000. The campaign claims that Karmelo acted in self-defense and challenges police reports that suggest he admitted to stabbing. “The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” the description of the campaign reads.
The incident occurred at a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, where Karmelo is accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, a beloved football star. According to Andrew Anthony, Karmelo was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After being told he had taken the wrong seat, tensions between Karmelo and Austin escalated, and the situation turned violent. Karmelo’s family insists that the stabbing was an act of self-defense, citing witness accounts that suggest Austin became physically aggressive first. In the heartbreaking aftermath, Austin died in his twin brother Hunter’s arms. Hunter recalled the agonizing moment, saying, “I tried to whip around as fast as I could… I looked at my brother, and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.”
Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, is demanding justice for his son, whom he describes as a young man with boundless potential, both academically and athletically. “What kind of parents did this child have? He brought a knife to a track meet and murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart. This is murder,” Jeff declared in an interview with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. The Metcalf family maintains that Austin and Karmelo had never met before that fateful day, making the tragic turn of events all the more heart-wrenching—a violent confrontation over something as small as a seat.
According to the Frisco Police report, the altercation began with a brief argument over seating, which escalated when Karmelo unzipped a bag and warned Austin, “Touch me and see what happens.” Moments later, Austin attempted to intervene, and Karmelo pulled out a black knife, stabbing him in the chest. In the chaos that followed, Austin collapsed and died as Hunter desperately tried to save him. Despite the shocking violence of the encounter, Karmelo’s father insists the act was not premeditated. He describes it as a split-second decision made under extreme duress. Following the incident, Karmelo reportedly told police, “I’m not alleged, I did it,” while expressing concern for Austin’s well-being—though he maintained that he acted in self-defense.
As public opinion remains sharply divided, the case continues to fuel debates about justice, self-defense, and teenage violence. Some call for severe punishment, while others urge a more nuanced understanding of the facts. Two families are now forever changed by the events that unfolded at that track meet, with one grieving the loss of a bright young life and the other facing the profound consequences of a decision made in a moment of intense pressure.
