Texas teen Karmelo Anthony indicted on first-degree murder charge in stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, 17

Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old teenager from Texas, has been formally charged with first-degree murder. Authorities believe he is responsible for the stabbing and death of another 17-year-old, Austin Metcalf. The incident took place during a high school track meet on April 2, which was part of the University Interscholastic League’s District 11-5A championship. According to reports, the conflict between the two teens started over something as simple as a disagreement about a seat. What began as a minor argument quickly escalated into violence, resulting in Austin being fatally stabbed.

After investigating the case for several weeks, a grand jury listened to the evidence presented by the prosecution. On June 24, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced during a press conference that he had formally asked the grand jury to indict Anthony for first-degree murder. He said his team had spent weeks collecting and reviewing evidence. In the end, the jury agreed that there was enough to move forward with the murder charge against Anthony.

Photos of both teenagers have been shared widely. One shows Karmelo Anthony in a mugshot, with short curly hair and a serious expression. Another shows Austin Metcalf smiling alongside his twin brother, Hunter, while wearing their high school football uniforms. The photos have been deeply emotional for many who are following the case, especially those in the Frisco community where both boys lived.

Public reaction to the case has been strong, not just because of the violence, but also because of what happened afterward. Despite being accused of such a serious crime, Anthony was released on a \$250,000 bond. People were especially upset to learn that while awaiting trial, Anthony was living comfortably in a \$900,000 home located in Richwoods, a gated and upscale neighborhood in Frisco. It’s been reported that the monthly rent for homes in that neighborhood is about \$3,500. Neighbors even said they saw Anthony with a new car after the incident. All of this led many to question why his bond had been reduced from the original amount of \$1 million. His legal team had claimed financial hardship when requesting the reduction, saying the family couldn’t afford the higher amount.

Karmelo Anthony has told police that he acted in self-defense. His family strongly denies the public version of events and says that the way the story is being told is wrong, unfair, and damaging to Karmelo’s reputation. They launched an online fundraiser on a site called GiveSendGo to help pay for his legal fees. The fundraiser has already collected more than \$530,000 in donations from supporters who believe in his innocence or want to help with the legal fight.

Not long after the grand jury announced the indictment, Anthony’s defense lawyer, Mike Howard, released a video statement. In it, he insisted that his client did not commit murder, and that when the full truth comes out, a jury will see that Karmelo’s actions were justified. He said they are confident justice will be served once all the facts are presented in court.

Austin Metcalf was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco. His death has left a hole in the community, especially among his friends, classmates, and football teammates. What started as a routine school event ended in a tragedy that has left two families devastated—one mourning the loss of a son, and the other facing the possibility that their son could spend the rest of his life in prison. If Karmelo Anthony is found guilty of first-degree murder, he could be sentenced to life behind bars.