In a case that’s shaken a Texas community and ignited fierce debate online, the father of a teenage boy accused of killing a fellow student is speaking out —pleading with the public to see beyond the headlines and consider the full story.
“He’s a good kid”
Andrew Anthony, the father of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, gave an emotional and exclusive interview to the New York Post, describing his son not as a violent criminal, but as a hard-working, high-achieving student who was caught in a tragic moment.
“Everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be,” Andrew Anthony said.
“He’s a good kid. He works two jobs. He’s an A student, has a 3.7 GPA.”
A fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony has brought in over $143,000 as of Monday — amid growing controversy and a public debate over what really happened that day.
Hosted on GiveSendGo, the campaign was reportedly launched by Karmelo’s family, who insist the teen acted in self-defense. Despite police stating that Karmelo admitted to the stabbing, the fundraiser pushes back against public perception.
The description on the page asserts: “The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful.”
Stabbed Austin Metcalf in the heart
Karmelo is accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Texas high school football player Austin Metcalf during a heated altercation at a track meet held at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Witnesses claim the two teens got into a fight over a seat— and things spiraled fast.
“He was not the aggressor. He was not the one who started it,” Andrew Anthony said.
According to the father, Karmelo had been told he was sitting in the wrong seat.
When tensions escalated, he allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed Austin Metcalf in the heart. But Karmelo’s family insists it was self-defense. Many on social media — some claiming to be at the scene — back up that narrative, saying Austin got physical first.
Tragically, Austin died in the arms of his twin brother Hunter, who witnessed the attack.
“I tried to whip around as fast as I could,” Hunter Metcalf told WFAA.
“I looked at my brother and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.”
Hunter, born four minutes after Austin, explained that him and his twin – both juniors at Memorial High School outside Dallas – were in the school’s tent when a student from another school decided to enter.
“This kid was sitting under out tent at track, we asked him to move. He started getting aggressive and talking reckless and my brother stepped in and said, ‘you need to move,’” Hunter told ABC affiliate WFAA in a heartbreaking interview. “And he’s like, ‘Make me move.’
Demanding justice
Their father, Jeff Metcalf, is demanding justice and questioning how the situation even reached this point.
“I’m not trying to judge, but what kind of parents did this child have? What was he taught?” he told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. “He brought a knife to a track meet and he murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart. This is murder.”
According to the Metcalf family, Austin and Karmelo Anthony had never crossed paths before the deadly encounter at the track meet.
As detailed in the arrest report, a witness told police that after a brief argument, Anthony unzipped a bag, reached inside, and issued a chilling warning:
“Touch me and see what happens.”
Seconds later, things took a fatal turn. Police say Austin tried to move Anthony by grabbing him, prompting the teen to pull out a black knife and stab him once in the chest. The blade pierced Austin’s heart.
Insists it was a tragic split-second decision
The 17-year-old collapsed and died in the arms of his identical twin brother, Hunter, who was there when it all unfolded.
Andrew Anthony insists that this was a tragic split-second decision, not a premeditated act. ABC reports that after Karmelo tossed the weapon into the bleachers and was taken out of the stadium, he told police, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The affidavit reveals that Karmelo also reportedly asked police if Metcalf was going to be okay while he was in the back of the squad car. He also claimed it was self defense.
“I feel bad for the other parents and family, and words can’t explain how both [families] have been affected by this tragedy,” he said.
Jeff Metcalf, heartbroken and grieving the loss of his son, described Austin as a young man with limitless potential — a standout both on and off the field.
“He was on the right track,” Jeff Metcalf said. “He was loved by many. He was a leader.”
Austin, who carried a 4.0 GPA and was named MVP of the football team, had his sights set on college and a promising future. His father says the tragedy cut short not just a life, but a legacy that was only just beginning.
The case has quickly gone viral, with opinions sharply divided. Some are calling for the harshest possible punishment. Others are urging compassion and calling on the public to wait for the facts.
One thing’s for certain: two families are forever changed — and the debate over justice, self-defense, and teenage violence is raging louder than ever.
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