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'I did it': Texas teen charged with murder in track meet stabbing cites self-defense


Seventeen-year-old Karmelo Anthony is being charged in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Anthony's legal team is working to get his $1 million bond reduced.

A Texas teenager has been charged with murder in the death of a student athlete killed during a track meet, and authorities say he admitted doing it out of self-defense.

Karmelo Anthony, 17, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf on April 2, according to Frisco police and an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Paste BN on Tuesday.

His bond was set at $1 million, according to online court records and his lawyer, Billy Clark.

“We are pursuing the writ of habeas corpus to have his bond reduced,” Clark told Paste BN on Tuesday.

Another lawyer for Anthony, Deric Walpole, did not immediately respond to Paste BN’s requests for comment Tuesday but told KXAS-TV that his client said it was self-defense.

"I know that my client said it was self-defense,” he told the outlet. “I don't have any reason to disbelieve that, but I need to develop facts, talk to people, and figure out what's going on before I make any statements about what I think happened ... I don't have any reason to think it wasn't self-defense at this time."

Here's what else to know.

What happened the day Austin Metcalf was killed?

The killing happened the morning of April 2 during a track meet at Frisco Independent School District's Kuykendall Stadium.

Metcalf was a student at Memorial High School, while Anthony went to Centennial High School about 7 miles away, police said. Someone called for help around 10 a.m. that day about an altercation between Anthony and Metcalf. 

The two apparently had a disagreement over a seat, and Metcalf was stabbed in the heart, reported the Austin American Statesman.

First responders tried to save Metcalf but he was eventually pronounced dead, police said. He died in his twin brother’s arms that day, reported KDFW-TV.

‘I did it,’ defendant said to school resource officer

A school resource officer was the first to arrive at the scene, according to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Paste BN. When the officer told Anthony to put his hands up, the teen allegedly said: "I was protecting myself."

Other statements Anthony made, according to the affidavit, include:

  • "He put his hands on me."
  • "I did it."
  • "Is he going to be OK?"

The officer also saw blood on the teen's hand, the affidavit said.

An officer from Frisco police also noted in the affidavit that Anthony asked if what he did could be considered self-defense.

While first responders tried to save Metcalf under a nearby tent, other investigators at the scene began looking for a knife they heard Anthony had used to stab Metcalf, per the affidavit. Investigators found the knife in the stands.

‘Touch me and see what happens’

Investigators spoke to over two dozen people who saw what happened, including a Memorial High School track team member, per the affidavit.

One witness told authorities that he was sitting under a Memorial High School tent with the team while Metcalf and Anthony were sitting nearby. Anthony was sitting under the team’s tent when Metcalf told him he needed to move, the witness said, according to the document.

“Anthony grabbed his bag, opened it and reached inside and proceeded to tell (Metcalf) ‘Touch me and see what happens,’” the affidavit said.

Metcalf touched Anthony, who then told Metcalf to punch him and see what happens, the witness said. Metcalf then grabbed Anthony to tell him to move again, and that’s when Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away, according to the affidavit.

Metcalf began grabbing his chest and telling people to get help, the affidavit said. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Police push back against misinformation

Frisco Police Chief David Shilson said in a statement on Friday that Metcalf's death is “devastating” and cautioned community members not to believe everything they read or hear. 

Various reports surfaced on social media in the wake of the killing falsely reporting the facts of the case.

On Friday night, police made a post dispelling the rumors about Metcalf’s cause of death, cautioning: "Do not contribute to the misinformation by spreading unconfirmed information.”

Loved ones start fundraisers for victim and defendant 

So far, at least two fundraisers have been created to raise money for Metcalf's loved ones, reported the Statesman. One has raised over $125,000, while the other started by Metcalf’s father raised nearly $300,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

“He was a leader of men,” Jeff Metcalf wrote about his son. “His smile would light up the room. His passion for football was unbelievable. Voted team MVP this past season and carried a 4.0 GPA. He was looking forward to taking his game to the next level.”

At least two GoFundMes were started for Karmelo Anthony but were taken down, reported the Statesman. Per the fundraiser’s terms of service, GoFundMe cannot be used for “the legal defense of financial and violent crimes."

One fundraiser said Anthony was respectful with "ZERO criminal history—not even a blemish." It raised $140,000 before it was taken down, reported the Statesman. A third fundraiser for Anthony was created through GiveSendGo, raising about $250,000 of its $300,000 goal by Tuesday afternoon.

“The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” the Anthony family wrote in the GiveSendGo fundraiser description. “As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.”

Frisco Police Chief Shilson said Friday that the scene that day was “horrific and chaotic.” 

He said the family is relying on faith to get them through the loss of their son.

“I encourage our community to do the same,” the chief said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.