Teen Karmelo Anthony indicted for murder in death of Austin Metcalf
'When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core,' Collin County District Attorney said.
Karmelo Anthony, the Texas teenager who allegedly fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a school track meet in April, has been indicted for first-degree murder, the district attorney announced.
A Texas grand jury indicted Anthony, who was also 17 at the time of the stabbing, after weeks of evidence, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced on June 24.
The case will now move through the court system as both sides wait for a trial schedule to be set, Willis said.
"We know this case has struck a deep nerve — here in Collin County and beyond. That’s understandable," Willis said. "When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core."
Anthony was previously charged with murder and released on $250,000 bond. His lawyer, Mike Howard, released a video statement after the indictment that was shared with Paste BN.
"Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial," Howard said in the video. "Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court."
Teen claims self-defense in Texas track meet stabbing
Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf after a dispute at a school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Paste BN.
A school resource officer was the first to arrive on scene and told Anthony to put his hands up, to which the teen allegedly replied "I was protecting myself," according to the affidavit.
Anthony said Metcalf put his hands on him, admitted to stabbing Metcalf and asked “Is he going to be OK?," according to the affidavit.
Howard reiterated Anthony's self-defense claim in the video statement after his indictment.
"We expect that when the full story is heard, the prosecution will not be able to rule out the reasonable doubt that Karmelo Anthony may have acted in self-defense," Howard said.
'Justice will be served,' Austin Metcalf's father says
Jeff Metcalf, Austin Metcalf's father, said after the indictment that he is "pleased that we are moving forward," CBS Texas and Fox 4 reported.
"With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system. I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back," Jeff Metcalf said.
Paste BN has reached out to Jeff Metcalf for comment.
Jeff Metcalf previously wrote on a GoFundMe page that his son "was a bright young man with a great future ahead of him."
"His commitment, dedication, leadership, and sheer grit made him rise to the level of success that he desired," Jeff Metcalf wrote.
Anthony's family says indictment is 'a moment we hoped we would never face'
After the indictment, Anthony’s family released a statement through a fundraiser they created on the platform GiveSendGo.
"This is a moment we hoped we would never face, yet one we’ve been preparing for throughout these long and painful months," the family said.
They added, "We are not here to try this case on social media."
"We are not interested in online arguments or judgment from those who do not know the full story. Karmelo will defend himself in a court of law — not in the court of public opinion," the statement said.
Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, said during an April 17 press conference that the family has been "under attack" since the stabbing.
"Whatever you think that happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn't do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about," she said.
Next Generation Action Network, a nonprofit advocating for Anthony's right to a fair trial, previously confirmed to Paste BN that the teenager was set to graduate but not attend his school's graduation ceremony.
This story has been updated with new information.
Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, Paste BN
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for Paste BN. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.