Killing of Austin Metcalf

Austin Metcalf Metcalf, born July 31, 2007, was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas, where he had a 3.97 GPA. He was MVP linebacker of the football team and participated in track and field. He had a twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, with whom he played football. Karmelo Anthony Karmelo Anthony, the accused perpetrator, was a student and athlete for the track and football team, which he captained, at Centennial High School, also in Frisco. Anthony was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was the oldest of four children in his family. He had no prior criminal history. ==Incident==

The stabbing occurred at the Memorial High School tent in the David Kuykendall Stadium at approximately 10 a.m. (CDT) on April 2, 2025. During the argument that ensued, Anthony allegedly said, "Touch me and see what happens," while reaching his hand into his backpack. Metcalf then pushed Anthony on the bleachers they were on; in response, he allegedly said "Punch me and see what happens", to which Metcalf pushed him. In response, Anthony pulled out a black knife from the backpack and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away. Another witness in the Frisco Police Arrest Report stated "Austin and [Anthony] went back and forth and then Austin stood up and pushed [Anthony] to get him out of the tent". After being stabbed, Metcalf ran down the bleachers grabbing his chest and told those around him to get help. When police arrived, he was not conscious or breathing, and athletic trainers were performing chest compressions on him. Austin Metcalf was pronounced dead minutes after arriving in the hospital. ==Legal proceedings==

Anthony was charged with murder and transported to the Collin County jail. On April 14, 2025, Judge Angela Tucker lowered Anthony's bond from $1 million to $250,000, citing his clean criminal record and his academic and athletic achievements. Anthony was released on bond the same day. Anthony's lawyer said that he would plead not guilty and claim self-defense at his future trial. If convicted, Anthony will not be subject to a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty due to his age. On June 24, 2025, a grand jury indicted Anthony on charges of first-degree murder. The trial was scheduled for June 1, 2026. ==Aftermath==

The courts approved Anthony moving to an "undisclosed location" due to safety concerns. According to the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), a nonprofit organization working with Anthony's family, the move was precipitated by an "alarming increase in death threats, continued harassment, and physical intimidation" targeted at him and his family's home. Additionally, both Metcalf's and Anthony's fathers have been forced to leave their jobs after facing harassment and doxxing. Angela Tucker, the judge who lowered the bond to $250,000, has also been doxxed and received multiple threats from unknown people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the local sheriff's office are investigating these incidents. Anthony's parents and the NGAN held a press conference on April 17. Metcalf's father attended the event. However, Dallas police asked Metcalf to leave. After Metcalf had left the press conference, NGAN founder and president Dominique Alexander said Metcalf was "uninvited" and that his presence was "disrespectful to the dignity of his son". Metcalf said he thought it would be "an opportunity for the two families to come together in a productive way". Fundraiser Anthony's family set up a crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo to pay for legal defense, raising over $515,000 by May 1. GoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns were launched by Metcalf's father and the owner of the pizzeria in Frisco where Metcalf worked part-time, raising nearly $250,000. The founder of the GiveSendGo company, Jacob Wells, has compared the case to those of Kyle Rittenhouse and Daniel Penny, stating that Anthony should be afforded the "same presumption of innocence" as anyone else. On May 2, GiveSendGo turned off the commenting function on Anthony's fundraiser page, citing an "unacceptable volume of racist and derogatory remarks". Misinformation Anthony's family was attacked online after a news report from Daily Mail falsely claimed that he was living in a "luxurious" $900,000 house due to donations; Shortly after Metcalf's death, an X account impersonating the Frisco police chief began spreading misinformation and a fake autopsy report. The post gained millions of views on X and other social media platforms. The Frisco Police Department and the FBI began investigating the account for police impersonation. Protest On April 19, 2025, the group "Protect White Americans" held a protest at David Kuykendall Stadium, where Metcalf was killed. Protestors demanded Anthony be returned to police custody until his trial. Two counter protestors were arrested. Metcalf's father told the organizer of the protest that he disapproved of his efforts, stating, "You're trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap. I do not condone anything you do." He also requested that his son's school portrait be removed from the group's website. == References ==