Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet earlier this month, was released from jail Monday after his bond was lowered. Anthony was released from the Collin County Jail Monday afternoon. Anthony said nothing to reporters as he walked out of the jail where he was being held before posting his bail. The teen had been locked at the jail since April 2 for allegedly stabbing Austin Metcalf, also 17, in the heart during a fight over a seat at the track meet.
Karmelo Anthony Released From Jail
According to a former counsel for Anthony, the teen’s bond was initially set at $1 million. After the original bond, lawyers filed to reduce the bond to $150,000. According to court records, the bond was significantly reduced to $250,000. Anthony is on house arrest and has an electric monitor. The teen is not allowed to contact Metcalf’s family and must always be supervised by his parents. Every Friday, Anthony has to check in with court bailiffs.
In speaking with USA Today, the teen’s lawyer said Karmelo Anthony is back home. His lawyer wrote, “Karmelo and the entire Anthony family look forward to some quiet time together. They ask for space and time for the full investigation by both sides to play out fairly.” The teen was charged with murder due to the fatal stabbing of fellow 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, per Frisco Police and the arrest warrant affidavit. Anthony’s family has created a fundraiser through the platform GivrSendGo, with senders raising over $ 431,000 of its $500,000.
The fundraiser description reads, “The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” according to Karmelo Anthony’s family. The description also reads, “As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now than ever.”
North Texas Civil Rights organization, The Next Generation Action Network, has been coming to the defense of Karmelo Anthony’s family. In a Facebook video, Minister Dominque Alexander said in a news conference last week, “Their personal address has been exposed. This justice must be fair and impartial and protected from biases. We do not pull the race card. We live it. The bond reduction hearing started earlier this morning at 9 a.m. Factors that led to the reduced bond were Anthony’s lack of criminal history and ties to the community. ”
The Attack
The killing occurred on April 2 during a track meet at the Frisco Independent School District’s Kuykendall Stadium. Metcalf was a student-star athlete who participated in the track meet that day. A witness called for help around 10 a.m. when Metcalf was fatally stabbed. According to the witness, Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf got into an altercation. First responders attempted to save Metcalf, but he was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, a school resource officer was the first person to arrive at the scene. The officer said he told Karmelo Anthony to put his hands up, to which the teen allegedly replied, “I was protecting myself.” Anthony said that Metcalf attacked him, admitted to stabbing the fellow teen, and then asked, “Is he going to be OK?” One witness stated he was sitting under a Memorial High School tent, and the two teens sat nearby. According to the court document, the witness told the authorities that Metcalf told Anthony he needed to move.
Per the affidavit, “Anthony grabbed his bag, opened it and reached inside and proceeded to tell Metcalf’, ‘Touch me and see what happens’ “Metcalf then touched Anthony, and Anthony told Metcalf to punch him and see what happens, per the witness. Metcalf allegedly grabbed Anthony, and that’s when Karmelo Anthony pulled out the knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest before running away, per the witness. Metcalf grabbed his chest and told people to seek some help, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Anthony openly admitted that he had stabbed Metcalf, their accounts of the incident on the arrest report.
There have been multiple fundraisers for the Metcalf family since the killing. It has drawn in nearly $530,000. Loved ones gathered to mourn Metcalf on April 12. Austin and his twin brother went hunting with their father, Jeff, on the weekend before his death. “Jeff said in I’m so fortunate to be able to spend that weekend, not knowing it was the last weekend I’ll ever spend with him,” per the Dallas, Texas-based TV station. “I was able to watch and be blessed, so much, to have such, both my sons are amazing. My other son is just crushed. I feel for him now, he won’t be the same. None of us will.”
Jeff found out about his son Austin’s stabbing when a coach called him. He recalled seeing his son on a gurney and told KDFW-TV, “I pray that maybe there’s changes made as far as security,” he said. “Maybe we can learn from this, and try to turn a tragedy into something positive to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else’s child … His brother was holding him, trying to hold the blood in. My son watched his brother die in his arms.” Jeff has said that he’s forgiven Anthony for his actions and even felt sorry for his son’s killer.
Final Thoughts
Jeff said about Karmelo Anthony, “To be taken away, it’s such a tragedy,” his father said, per KDFW-TV. “I feel numb … I do hope for justice because this is unacceptable.” The case has drawn much public attention and sparked strong reactions online and debates about race. Karmelo Anthony’s family has reportedly been met with threats, leading to calls for a fair and unbiased investigation. Austin Metcalf was 17 years old when he was killed. He was a top student and a star athlete and had plans to go to college. He was described as loving and loved by family and friends.
