Karmelo Anthony, Austin Metcalf
Crime

Karmelo Anthony Indicted On First Degree Murder Charge

RNN Staff

Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old Texas student accused of fatally stabbing a fellow teen at a high school track meet, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge.

Anthony is charged in the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was stabbed during an altercation at the University Interscholastic League’s District 11-5A championship meet in Frisco on April 2. The incident reportedly began over a dispute about where Anthony was sitting.

“For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury,” said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis during a press conference. “Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first-degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony, which they did.”

If convicted, Anthony faces up to life in prison. Judge Angela Tucker, a Republican, is presiding over the case.

Anthony was initially held on a $1 million bond, but a judge reduced it to $250,000 after his legal team cited financial hardship. He was released with an ankle monitor.

Public outrage intensified after Anthony’s supporters raised over $530,000 through a fundraising page, which coincided with his family moving into a $900,000 home in a gated Frisco community and hiring private security.

At the time of the stabbing, Anthony attended Frisco Centennial High School. Metcalf was an athlete at Frisco Memorial High. Witnesses told police that Metcalf asked Anthony to move from under the Memorial team’s tent. Anthony allegedly responded by warning, “Touch me and see what happens,” before producing a knife and stabbing Metcalf in the chest during the confrontation. He then fled the scene.

Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, claims his client acted in self-defense. “We are confident that when all the facts are presented and the full story is heard, the jury will reach the right conclusion and justice will be done,” he said in a video statement.

Howard has declined to explain why Anthony brought a knife to the meet, saying it would be “irresponsible” to speculate at this stage.

Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, welcomed the indictment. “I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf,” he said. “But it will never bring my son back.”

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